SA allays FMD fears

The foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in South Africa has had a devastating effect on trade, with neighbouring countries like Namibia suspending imports and the in-transit movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products from the country.

However, South Africa's agricultural ministry has allayed some fears concerning the disease, saying that only a small amount of cattle have been infected.

South Africa's agriculture minister Senzeni Zokana met with farmers on Monday to discuss measures that have been implemented to control the FMD outbreak in the Vhembe district of Limpopo.

The disease was reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on 7 January.

“As a result of this development, the official OIE recognised FMD-free status of South Africa has been suspended. Consequently, any exports where FMD-free zone attestation is required cannot be certified,” said Zokana.

According to him this temporary suspension caused several neighbouring trading countries to ban imports from South Africa.

“These bans have caused serious loss to the industry,” he said.

Namibia suspended the import and in-transit movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products from South Africa on 8 January, due to the FMD outbreak.

Botswana, Zambia and eSwatini have also banned imports from South Africa.

According to Zokana the affected areas have been demarcated and fenced off, and task teams have been set up to deal with the outbreak.

He said they will also let trade partners know that they can still import meat products.

Zokana said a trade committee will therefore engage with foreign markets.

He added that infected livestock will be treated and vaccinated, while a team of veterinary services experts is on the ground conducting further investigations to check the extent of the spread of the disease.

“Vaccination in the 20km radius around the affected village commenced in the week starting on 14 January 2019.”

The estimated number of cattle in the 20km radius around the affected village is 15 000.

This does not mean that all 15 000 animals are infected with the disease, but there is a risk that they may become infected through contact with sick cattle.

“Culling of affected or in-contact animals in the area is at the moment not advocated due to a number of factors, and the situation is constantly monitored by my veterinary team,” said Zokana.

Furthermore, a disease management area was declared; the exact boundaries of this area will still be announced.

Zokana said regaining South Africa's OIE FMD-free status will be a long process.

“First we have to successfully contain the outbreak through movement control and vaccination, while at the same time investigating the extent of the outbreak, which is what we are currently doing. Then we must prove that it was a limited incident, through active surveillance outside of the vaccinated area.”

He said considering that animals in the formerly FMD-free zone will be vaccinated, these have to be clearly marked and removed from the area once the situation calms down, if they intend including the same area in the free zone again.

South Africa will also have to review its FMD control strategy to ensure that it still complies with the OIE guidelines.

“Thereafter, we must implement all these measures and conduct audits to confirm that they are adhered to.”



Severe

FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral disease which affects livestock and has a significant economic impact.

The disease affects cattle, pigs (domestic and wild), sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals. Signs of the disease may include depression, sores in the mouth of animals causing a reluctance to eat and lameness.

Any suspected case of the disease in animals must be reported to the local state veterinarian immediately. The disease does not affect human beings and it is safe to consume products of cloven-hoofed animals, such as meat and milk.

Certain animals and products can still be imported into Namibia, provided they are accompanied by a valid Namibian veterinary import permit and veterinary health certificate.

This includes non-cloven-hoofed animals such as horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, zebras, lions, leopards, cheetahs and crocodiles, as well as the products of non-cloven-hoofed animals.

Under the abovementioned conditions, cooked processed meat products of cloven-hoofed animals may also be imported, as well as break-dry biltong, heat-treated milk and milk products of cloven-hooved animals.

Furthermore, dry, salted and blue hides and skins, as well as fully processed karakul pelts and fully processed trophies are also allowed to be imported into Namibia.

The importing of fresh, uncooked products of cloven-hoofed animals from other countries via South Africa are still permitted and semen and embryos of cloven-hoofed animals from countries via South Africa is also allowed.

Commercially processed feed may be imported under the conditions mentioned and hay from approved commercial facilities, certified by the South African veterinary authority, is also allowed.

ELLANIE SMIT