Foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in South Africa rose to 1 223 by 27 March, with the Free State worst affected at 321 outbreaks.
- FMD outbreaks in South Africa rose to 1 223 by 27 March, with the Free State worst affected at 321 outbreaks.
- The Department of Agriculture focuses on containment, not eradication, as the latter would entail culling animals.
- More than 1.7 million animals were vaccinated by 26 March, with additional vaccine doses expected soon.
As foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks continue to rise, the Department of Agriculture’s strategy is on containment, rather than eradicating.
Eradication would require culling infected animals, said Dr Botlhe Modisane, the department’s chief director for animal health and production, to the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture’s weekly update on FMD.
Outbreaks refer to a specific location, typically a farm, where FMD has been confirmed. It is not indicative of the number of animals infected.
According to the department’s statistics, there were 1 223 outbreaks nationwide on 27 March, up 71 from 20 March’s 1 152.
There are likely more.
“Many highly suspect outbreaks are based on clinical signs and are still waiting for laboratory confirmation,” reads the department’s presentation.
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The province worst affected remains the Free State, with 321 outbreaks – five more than a week earlier.
Gauteng has overtaken KwaZulu-Natal as the province with the second-most outbreaks. Gauteng had 230 outbreaks on 27 March, five more than a week earlier, while KwaZulu-Natal remained at 225.
The province with the highest increase in outbreaks was the North West, which jumped 34 outbreaks from 175 on 20 March to 209 on 27 March.
The Eastern Cape saw an increase of 14 outbreaks, from 55 to 69, and Limpopo from 42 to 46, and the Western Cape from 10 to 13.
Mpumalanga remained at 108 outbreaks, and the Northern Cape at two.
In response to a question from EFF MP Laetitia Arries on whether their strategy focuses on containing FMD or eradicating it, Modisane said: “The strategy at this stage is to … contain the disease and avoid it spreading any further.”
He said the vaccines they are using achieve a “quick antibody response”, aiding containment.
A strategy to eradicate FMD would involve culling animals. Modisane said this is not advisable, as animals infected with FMD can heal and be productive again.
READ | Steenhuisen confident 80% of national herd will be vaccinated for FMD by December
As at 26 March, 1 716 011 animals had been vaccinated, compared to 1 179 583 the previous week.
ActionSA MP Athol Trollip noted that this is an increase of more than 500 000 animals from the week before, which is progress, albeit slow.
Modisane said the department would receive 20 000 ARC vaccine doses on Tuesday, while 1.5 million doses from Biogenesis Bago were expected at any moment, and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority approved a permit for 2 million doses from Dollvet.
