AGRICULTURE NEWS - An outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has been confirmed in livestock within parts of the Merafong City Local Municipality, with the Losberg area near Fochville currently the worst affected.
According to Dr Nomkhosi Cele, a State Veterinarian from Randfontein, several cattle have tested positive for FMD, with both free-ranging and kraal-confined animals impacted.
The virus affects cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, causing painful sores in their mouths and on their feet, which leads to excessive salivation and limping.
“The infected animals must be kept under quarantine so that they do not infect others. We ask farmers and all livestock owners to please cooperate with us,” urged Dr Cele.
Vaccination and testing underway
The Office of the State Veterinarian has already started vaccinating affected animals and those in contact with them. Follow-up booster vaccinations are scheduled to be administered three to four weeks later.
Meanwhile, officials are conducting ongoing testing of livestock in the area to monitor the spread.
16 West Rand properties confirmed infected
According to Jaco Taute, chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) and a farmer just outside Merafong, 16 properties in the West Rand were confirmed to be infected with FMD in September.
These include:
6 communal kraals
4 commercial farms
Other smaller holdings
The outbreak was traced back to cattle purchased at a livestock auction, Taute revealed.
“Vaccinated cattle are marked with an F-sign, but unfortunately there are currently not enough vaccines available to provide preventative immunisation for all farmers,” he added.
What to do if you own livestock
All livestock owners in the affected areas are urged to cooperate with veterinary authorities, ensure proper quarantine procedures, and report any unusual symptoms in their animals.
For more information, contact Dr Jason Mpofu, State Veterinarian, at 072 900 0869.
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