HEIDELBERG – The foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks have now spread to four provinces.
This includes Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the North West.
One of the country’s beef producers, Karan Beef feedlot in Heidelberg, was among the latest to report an outbreak.
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen says government has set aside R43 million to purchase vaccines to fight the outbreak.
READ | Foot-and-mouth disease | Authorities confirm outbreak in the North West
He says the first batch of over 900,000 arrived in the country last week, allowing vaccinations to begin this past weekend.
Steenhuisen confirmed that a second order is on the way.
“We will continue to purchase vaccines to get the outbreak under control not just in Gauteng but also in KZN, where there is a major outbreak.”
The minister stressed that while vaccination is underway, the entire meat supply chain must act responsibly to prevent the spread from farmgate to auction house, abattoir to consumer.
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