Rapid response team to deal with foot-and-mouth outbreaks

Experts have welcomed the establishment of a rapid response team to deal with outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.

The team of seven government and industry experts has been mandated to help strengthen capacity and accelerate decision-making.

This follows the declaration last week by the Department of Agriculture of Disease Management Areas, which include parts of the Kouga and Kou-Kamma Municipalities in the Eastern Cape.

The two municipalities experienced an outbreak of the disease after cattle on 26 farms tested positive.

In response, the department vaccinated the affected animals to decrease their viral load and to control the severity of the disease especially in dairy cattle. The farms were also placed under quarantine.

Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, Wandile Sihlobo says the outbreak of the disease has been a major challenge, particularly in the Eastern Cape.

“So far, we have excellent access to markets such as Saudi Arabia which we recently reopened. Some in the Middle East are opening up and in the African continent but a continuation of these outbreaks does mean that for certain periods South Africa could be blocked out of the export markets. And of course, that then presents a number of challenges because it could take some time before some of the markets are cleared.”

[Media Release 📃]
UPDATE ON OUTBREAK OF FOOT AND MOUTH (#FMD) DISEASE IN EASTERN CAPE. @GCISMedia @GovernmentZA @FarmersWeeklySA @foodformzansi @SABCNews pic.twitter.com/cyDEJaC8ND

— National Department of Agriculture (@DOAgov_ZA) August 9, 2024

Foot and Mouth | Disease detected in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape