Cape Town - Eleven new outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have been confirmed in South Africa.
On Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development said at the end of the first week of the countrywide movement ban on cattle, the department took stock of the situation in order to consider the best way forward.
From August 18 to 25, 11 new outbreaks of FMD were confirmed by laboratory testing, with five cases in KwaZulu-Natal, five in the Free State and one in Gauteng.
This brings the total number of infected properties to 127.
“These new cases were likely already on the farms at the time when the standstill was initiated, and some are neighbours of already infected properties with contiguous spread.
“Given the incubation period and the delay in showing clinical signs, the effect of the standstill will be better appreciated after two weeks,” the department said.
“The department regrets the economic impact of the disease to farming enterprises.
“This decision was not taken lightly. The medium- to long-term impact on the livestock industry was at the centre of the decision. In the past week, we received mixed messages, those of support and those of criticising the decision. By far the majority of messages were those of support, and we thank industry.”
During the past week since the standstill was instituted, Minister Thoko Didiza led her team in meeting the premiers and executives of KZN and the Free State with the aim of heightening the importance and impact of FMD and soliciting support from all other role-players.
“The ban on the movement of cattle will remain in place and this status will again be considered at the end of week 2 of the standstill,” the department said.
Cape Times