Rapid response team launched to combat foot-and-mouth disease

By Glenneis Kriel | 9 August 2024 | 3:36 pm

The livestock industry has welcomed the establishment of a rapid response team to deal with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks.

Dr. Frikkie Maré, CEO of the Red Meat Producers Organisation, said that the creation of a rapid response team would help to strengthen government capacity and accelerate decision-making.

“FMD is a controlled and notifiable disease, which means that the private sector can do nothing about an outbreak unless government approved it. In the past, government consulted the industry before making decisions, which slowed down decision-making. The rapid response team consists of private and state veterinarians, which means that government and industry are now working together as one.”

Decision-making, he explained, was difficult because it differed between regions. “You cannot treat intensive production areas, such as dairy farms in the Eastern Cape, the same as extensive production areas, as the risk and potential losses vary greatly.”

The establishment of the rapid response team by Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen follows a Disease Management Area (DMA) declaration gazetted a week ago to prevent the spread of the disease through the movement of cattle, sheep, goats, and products derived from these animals.

According to a press release, the rapid response team is mandated to provide immediate support and critical decision-making assistance within the first 48 hours of an FMD outbreak.

The team will ensure regular communication, assist with guidelines on how affected farms should handle milk, meat, or other produce from affected areas, and involve agricultural specialists to advise on the economic impact on these areas.

The team comprises seven government and industry experts, including Dr Mpho Maja, Dr Shaun Morris, Dr Jared Strydom, Dr Patricia Froneman, Dr Matlou Rabala, and Dr Gerhard Neethling.

In terms of the DMAs, the boundaries in the Eastern Cape are defined as follows: the Groot River forms the western boundary, turning east to join the Witelsbos State Forest, which marks the northern boundary.

The boundary then extends south and east along the Witelsbos State Forest to the R402, continues along the R402 to the R62, then to the N2, and follows the N2 to the R330. From the R330, it heads north to where the R330 crosses the Kabeljous River.

The Kabeljous River marks the eastern boundary, and the Indian Ocean forms the southern boundary. All farms intersecting these boundaries are included in the DMA.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the DMA includes the entire Big Five Hlabisa, Mtubatuba, Nongoma, Ulundi local municipalities, and Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park.

In Limpopo, the international boundary is the international border between the Nwanedi River and the Kruger National Park fence, and the eastern boundary is the Kruger National Park fence.

It encompasses the portion of Musina local municipality east of the Nwanedi River, the whole of Thulamela and Collins Chabane local municipalities, and parts of Greater Giyani and Greater Letaba local municipalities, extending east of the D32016 and north of the Mooketsi/Giyani Road (R81) to where the R81 crosses the Little Letaba River, then north of the Little Letaba River to the Kruger National Park fence.

In the DMAs of Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, the movement of live cattle, sheep, and goats is restricted. In the Eastern Cape DMA, no cloven-hooved animals, animal products derived from cloven-hoofed animals, or genetic material may be moved in or out without a state veterinary permit.

In other areas, the movement of live cattle, sheep, and goats must be accompanied by an owner declaration verifying the animals’ origin and health status.