Latest news with #FMD-free
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Addressing SA's foot-and-mouth disease: The need for strategic vaccination and traceability
Meat and dairy farmers have been suffering economic setbacks for months due to the restrictions on the movement of livestock. Image: IOL/ RON AI The solution to ridding South Africa of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) lies in traceability, strategic vaccination, domestic production and accurate scientific information. The Department of Agriculture said there were FMD outbreaks in KwaZulu-Natal, which have spread to Mpumalanga and Gauteng. One farm in Mpumalanga was identified as part of trace-forward exercises from a positive auction in Utrecht, KZN, while another farm was reported in Gauteng. That was according to the Freedom Front Plus MP and chief spokesperson on agriculture, Dr Wynand Boshoff, who said meat and dairy farmers have been suffering economic setbacks for months due to the restrictions on the movement of livestock in parts of northern KZN and the Eastern Cape. 'The problem is the requirement that milk from animals in affected areas must be double-pasteurised. Cattle in the affected areas may also not be sold at all,' Boshoff said. 'Commercial and subsistence farmers in the affected parts of KwaZulu-Natal have been unable to sell any livestock since February this year. This has led to the illegal transport of animals and subsequent contamination in other provinces.' Boshoff said South Africa was once FMD-free due to careful, nationwide vaccinations. However, over the past decades, state veterinary services and Onderstepoort Biological Products, which manufactured the vaccine, declined significantly. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'The most pressing issue is that the strict measures imposed by the Department of Agriculture are not based on science. While foot-and-mouth disease is deadly and catastrophic for the entire agricultural ecosystem in the Northern Hemisphere, this is not the case in South Africa,' Boshoff said. He said that in a written response in Parliament, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen confirmed that no cattle died in the latest outbreak and that the disease has not been detected in sheep or goats. Yet the imposed restrictions apply to all cloven-hoofed animals. 'The problem is exacerbated by the high cost of vaccines that are being imported from Botswana, even though South African facilities can produce them at much lower costs. Accreditation remains the major hurdle for these laboratories,' Boshoff said. He said that at current prices, it would cost approximately R5.4 billion over three years to eliminate the disease from the country. 'The solution would only be temporary, though, as buffaloes also carry the disease, and cattle move freely between South Africa and neighbouring countries,' Boshoff said. 'The solution lies in traceability, strategic vaccination, domestic production and accurate scientific information. 'Targeted traceability would ensure that restrictions are only imposed on affected farms.' Meanwhile, during a portfolio committee meeting last week, Department of Agriculture Deputy Director-General Dipepeneneneng Serage said they were going to have to prioritise funding, which they do not have enough of, to procure vaccines and have them shipped into the country. 'Our Agricultural Research Council is able to produce some vaccines but albeit not on a large scale. We've started a process of ensuring that we double the capacity at the Agricultural Research Council to produce additional vaccines so that we rely on our own South African-produced vaccine and no longer rely on vaccines from Botswana,' Serage said. He said some farmer organisations and farmers approached the department and asked it to allow them to purchase vaccines themselves. 'We are going to allow one farm, farmer or farming business this next week or so for them to purchase vaccines directly, but under the supervision of our veterinary services to ensure that they don't wait on state resources, which are dwindling,' Serage said.
TimesLIVE
06-05-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Animal auctions to blame for foot and mouth disease, says agriculture dept
Outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) are prevalent in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, while the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape remain FMD-free. Giving an update on the status of the outbreak and measures to curb the spread of the disease on Tuesday, the agriculture department said auctions largely contributed to the spread of the disease. Dr Botlhe Modisane, chief director of animal health and production, said auctions have been playing a major role in spreading the disease, particularly the Utrecht auction in KwaZulu-Natal. The department was still seeing animals going to auction spreading the disease because biosecurity rules were not complied with. 'Before 2019 South Africa had free status for FMD. In 2019 we had an outbreak in Limpopo that resulted in the loss of the free status,' Modisane said. Outbreaks in KwaZulu-Natal have been simmering since 2021 but remained contained until the disease started moving from the west to more commercial areas this year.
Scoop
05-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
FAO Calls For Action Amid Foot-And-Mouth Disease Outbreaks
5 May 2025 FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and various wild species. Europe is currently facing its worst outbreak so far this century at the same time as an exotic viral strain has been introduced in Iraq and other countries in the Near East. Concern for potential spread ' FAO is recommending urgent biosecurity measures and enhanced surveillance following the recent detection of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) serotype SAT1 in Iraq and Bahrain,' the agency said in analert. 'This serotype is exotic to the Near East and West Eurasia regions,' the agency continued – meaning the strain is not normally found there – which raises 'serious concerns' about its potential spread. FMD is typically characterized by fever and blisters in the mouth and on the feet of affected livestock, accompanied by lameness. Although few adult animals succumb to disease, young ones may die from sudden heart failure. The virus spreads rapidly and can affect large numbers of animals, especially in countries or regions that are usually free of the disease or do not regularly use vaccination. Although FMD is not a public health threat, it severely impacts animal health and welfare, food security and incomes by reducing agricultural productivity, including through decreased milk and meat yields. The economic impact is also substantial, with global direct production losses and vaccination costs in endemic regions estimated to be $21 billion annually. FAO noted that the true economic burden is likely much higher when disruptions to both international and local trade are taken into consideration. A major outbreak in the United Kingdom in 2001 led to the culling of more than six million animals and cost the economy billions, devastating the livestock industry and tourism. A series of new measures in response have reportedly reduced the risk and improved resilience, including local and national contingency plans for outbreaks. Outbreaks and response The FMD virus was recently detected in parts of Europe normally free of the disease and the continent is now experiencing its worst outbreak since 2001. Germany detected an outbreak this past January but has since been declared FMD-free, however subsequent outbreaks in Hungary and Slovakia have persisted. In response, the UK recently announced that it has banned imports of meat or dairy products from European countries where the virus has been detected, as well as Austria due to the outbreak in neighbouring Hungary. FMD is endemic in the Near East, but the recent upsurge is due to an exotic serotype likely introduced from East Africa. Cases have been reported in Bahrain, Iraq and Kuwait, although other countries are at high risk. Many strains of the FMD virus continue to circulate in different parts of the world, and the recent outbreaks in both Europe and the Near East highlight the ongoing risk the disease poses to livelihoods, food security and safe trade, said FAO. Raising awareness While all governments are urged to be vigilant, the agency said affected and high-risk countries should consider awareness-raising measures among farmers and communities to protect livestock. Other recommendations include biosecurity measures such as separating sick animals from other livestock and having them examined by professionals, alongside checking vaccination records and verifying FMD contingency plans. FAO said that by implementing these measures, countries can significantly reduce risks.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Animal Husbandry department kicks off sixth phase of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccination campaign in Kerala
The sixth phase of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination campaign kicked off in Kerala on Friday (May 2, 2025), targeting eradication of the disease in the animal husbandry and dairy sector by 2030. Vaccination squads will visit households for vaccinating cows and buffaloes free of charge. According to the Animal Husbandry department, 13.4 lakh cows and one lakh buffaloes will be vaccinated over the 18-day campaign period. The department has constituted 1870 squads for the purpose. Each squad consists of a vaccinator and a helper, the department said in a statement here on Friday. The sixth phase is being conducted by the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development departments in close coordination with dairy cooperatives, local bodies and allied government machinery. Launching the sixth phase at the District Veterinary Centre, Kozhikode, on Friday, Minister for Animal Husbandry J. Chinchurani said that the campaign will be completed in 18 days between May 2 and May 23. The government is aiming to eradicate FMD, which causes production loss in the dairy sector, by 2030, she said. FMD vaccination is a key component of the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP). Kerala can claim the status of FMD-free region by ensuring 95% vaccination coverage over two consecutive years, according to the Animal Husbandry department.
