Pretoria – The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development, on Saturday, announced “a suspicion of an outbreak” of Foot–and–mouth disease (FMD) in cattle in Ramatlabama under the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in North West Province.
“The department wishes to emphasise that at this point in time, it is just a suspicion of an outbreak, based on positive serology results,” said a statement issued by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development.
“Epidemiological investigations are underway to confirm presence or absence of virus circulation.
“The farm is located in Ramatlabana, which is a village that borders Botswana.”
The department said it collected samples as part of a routine ongoing surveillance programme, and no clinical signs were noted at the time of sampling.
“The farm has been placed under quarantine, and follow-up investigation including sample collection is underway at the farm in question as well as surrounding farms and villages,” said the statement.
“There have not been any recent movements of animals from the farm in question to other properties.”
The department cautioned farmers in North West Province to observe bio-security measures – not to allow any new animals into their herds, and to minimise the movement of animals from their herds to other farms.
“It is further requested that strict biosecurity measures are exercised through Biosecurity Officers at all places where animals gather for sales,” said the statement.
“‘Any suspected case of FMD in susceptible animals must be reported to the local State Veterinarian immediately.”
FMD affects cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals (domestic and wild).
The major clinical features of the disease include fever, lameness, and the appearance of vesicles and sores in the mouth, feet, teats, and mammary glands.
Pain and discomfort from these vesicles and sores lead to other signs of disease such as depression, excessive salivation, lameness, and reluctance to eat, move or stand.
FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral disease that affects livestock with significant economic impact.
The disease does not affect human beings, hence the consumers have no reason for concern.
