As foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to spread in the Free State – with Sasolburg becoming the latest district to report cases – Free State Agriculture says farmers’ immediate response to symptoms is now critical to controlling the disease.
By Vida Booysen, senior journalist at African agriculture And Agricultural Gazette
Friedl von Maltitz, vice president of Agriculture of the Free StateAccording to the report, the fact that new cases of foot and mouth disease continue to occur in districts such as Parys proves that farmers are meeting their responsibilities by reporting them promptly.
“This will help us control the spread of the disease,” he said. “But farmers who do not report symptoms of FMD in a timely manner seriously jeopardize the lifting of quarantine measures and increase the risk of further infection.”
Also read: FMD | ‘Laws mean nothing without enforcement’
Practical solutions to relieve the pressure on veterinarians
With the shortage of state veterinarians making it difficult to control the outbreak, von Maltitz suggests farmers use modern technology to ease the pressure on them. Farmers who suspect an infection can easily send a photo or video to their local veterinarian or animal health technician. This way, these critical professionals are not overloaded and every farmer contributes to securing the livestock sector in the Free State.
At a joint industry meeting on Friday, October 17, Von Maltitz reminded the provincial agriculture department that Free State Agriculture had already proposed last year that livestock moved across provincial borders should only be moved with a veterinary permit, and not just a declaration from the owner. The department has taken note of the proposal, but implementation has been delayed due to the shortage of state veterinarians, combined with the demands of the current intensive vaccination program.
Also read: FMD | Seven more confirmed cases in the Free State
Urgent call for active monitoring
With the second round of vaccinations due to be completed in certain areas next week and slaughterhouses still awaiting approval to resume slaughter, von Maltitz insists that daily monitoring of livestock is now non-negotiable. “Every day counts. Every farmer should monitor their livestock and report any signs of foot and mouth immediately.”
The organization is appealing to all farmers to remain vigilant and cooperate fully with the Department of Agriculture to prevent further spread and protect the Free State’s livestock sector.
The Free State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed 49 FMD cases in the province last week. These were spread across eight outbreak areas in five local municipalities. Sasolburg has been declared a new outbreak area, while the existing outbreak area in Viljoenskroon and Vredefort has been expanded after a new case in neighboring Parys.
In Kroonstad, the results of one suspected case are still pending, while several others have tested negative.
Movement restrictions have been imposed on all farms within a 10 km radius of infected farms, and those farms remain under quarantine.
Also read: FMD | ‘The state system is unworkable’ – private veterinarian
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