Ministry of Agriculture Urges South African Livestock Farmers to Limit Animal Movement Amid Ongoing Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal

With the ongoing threat of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in parts of South Africa, the Ministry of Agriculture is urging farmers to be extra cautious.

The disease is still active in KwaZulu-Natal, and authorities are advising livestock owners to limit animal movement as much as possible to help prevent its spread.

Foot and Mouth Disease Confirmation in KwaZulu-Natal

The Ministry recently confirmed the presence of the Foot and Mouth Disease virus in KwaZulu-Natal after testing cattle in Mtubatuba.

These animals showed signs of the disease in December, prompting sample collection, and lab results revealed the introduction of the SAT1 strain of the FMD virus into the region.

Further investigation showed that this outbreak is connected to the SAT2 strain, which has been circulating in the area since 2021.

The SAT1 strain identified here is similar to one recently found in the northern part of Kruger National Park.

Ongoing Outbreaks and Investigations

In the past two weeks, there have been new reports of FMD symptoms in areas around Vryheid and Newcastle.

Laboratory testing has confirmed the virus’s presence, though it’s still being determined whether these outbreaks were caused by the SAT1 or SAT2 strain.

The Ministry of Agriculture has made it clear that control measures in the Disease Management Area (DMA) remain in effect. These include quarantining affected dip tanks and continuing vaccination efforts with a vaccine that covers all three FMD strains (SAT1, SAT2, and SAT3).

Compliance with Biosecurity Measures

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen stressed the importance of following strict biosecurity protocols.

He urged all farmers and livestock owners to report any suspected cases of FMD to veterinary authorities immediately.

The Ministry has also reminded livestock owners of the regulations that have been in place nationwide since October 2022.

These rules are essential for reducing the risk of FMD spreading further. They include:

• Livestock can only be moved if accompanied by a health declaration from the owner, confirming the animals’ health at the time of movement.
• Any newly introduced cattle, sheep, or goats must be kept separate from resident herds for at least 28 days.

Limiting Animal Movement

To avoid spreading the disease, livestock farmers across the country are strongly encouraged to limit animal movement as much as possible.

Auctioneers and livestock owners should be especially cautious when buying animals from provinces with active FMD outbreaks, like KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.

No cloven-hoofed animals should be accepted from areas under FMD restrictions.

The Ministry also reminded farmers that the Animal Diseases Act (Section 11) legally obligates animal owners to take necessary steps to prevent their animals from becoming infected and to avoid spreading diseases to other animals or properties.