SA strengthens measures to control foot-and-mouth disease

By Octavia Avesca Spandiel | 28 October 2024 | 2:53 pm

South Africa’s agriculture sector is ramping up biosecurity measures to combat foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in affected provinces, with North West, Free State, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga implementing targeted testing and movement controls.

The Department of Agriculture’s animal health director, Dr Mpho Maja, told Farmer’s Weekly that various farming operations were impacted in these four provinces, requiring tailored approaches.

“In instances where feedlots or commercial beef herds were affected, controlled slaughter was employed as the quickest solution, eliminating the need for testing before slaughter. However, for farms with valuable breeding stock, this approach isn’t feasible. In these cases, extensive testing is conducted to confirm the absence of viral circulation,” she said.

For farms retaining breeding stock, rigorous antibody testing is only initiated after more than 12 months with no visible signs of the virus.

Maja said: “We conducted repeat sampling over 14-day intervals to confirm the virus is not circulating. Although these tests detect antibodies from prior infections or vaccinations, they provide a reliable indicator of the farm’s disease status.”

She further mentioned that the nature of FMD complicated detection and containment efforts due to its extended incubation period.

“FMD can spread silently, with animals appearing healthy while shedding the virus for two to 14 days. It can take up to 28 days for symptoms to manifest in a herd. We therefore advise farmers to restrict movement of cloven-hoofed livestock during active outbreaks.”

To prevent undetected spread, movement restrictions now require health declarations and a 28-day quarantine for new arrivals on farms. The Animal Diseases Act enforces this with strict guidelines.

Dewald Oliver, CEO of Red Meat Industry Services, told Farmer’s Weekly about the importance of these measures for the livestock sector, particularly the role of biosecurity in limiting FMD’s spread.

“Effective biosecurity starts with controlling who and what enters the farm. Disinfection, designated entry points, and protective clothing for visitors are all critical,” he said.

Oliver also mentioned the operational challenges that strict biosecurity protocols could impose on farmers.

“Restricting livestock movement, regular disinfection, and access control can disrupt operations. To support compliance, we need affordable biosecurity tools and possibly financial assistance to offset costs,” he said.

According to Maja, vaccination has also emerged as a strategic tool, albeit with limitations.

“Vaccination is used when movement control fails or is impractical. While it can reduce the viral load, it does not completely prevent infection and may even mask symptoms, creating a false sense of security. Strict monitoring is essential, as vaccinated animals can still harbour and spread the virus unnoticed,” she said.

Maja said the Department of Agriculture had refined its FMD control strategy to respond to regional needs, and while containment was achievable in provinces like Gauteng, ongoing challenges persisted in other areas, notably the Eastern Cape.

“In regions where movement control is difficult, we may declare a disease management area, subjecting all properties to uniform restrictions to minimise risk,” she said.

Oliver said that the need for open communication and training to ensure effective compliance with biosecurity protocols was important.