Outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease spreads from KZN to Mpumalanga and Gauteng

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed a worrying outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) that is making its way beyond KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) into neighbouring provinces, including Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

On Saturday, the department provided an update regarding the spread of this animal disease, which poses a significant threat to livestock farmers across the country.

“Two new cases, outside of KZN have been confirmed. One farm in Mpumalanga which was identified as part of trace-forward exercises from a positive auction in Utrecht, KwaZulu Natal,” said the department.

“Although these animals showed no clinical signs of disease, further investigations have confirmed that the virus has spread to adjacent camps on the same farm.”

The department added that there were no indications that other farms had become infected, but veterinary services were continuing with clinical inspection and testing of livestock on farms in the area.

“Another farm was reported in Gauteng. Clinical signs suspicious of FMD were noted in a feedlot that received animals from an auction in Heidelberg; samples were collected and prioritised for testing,” it said.

The department said that laboratory results for these samples were positive and confirmed that this was the same virus that was circulating in parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

“An epidemiological investigation is underway to trace back and trace forward all other animals that were bought and sold at the same auction.”

As a result of the spread of the KZN outbreaks to Mpumalanga and Gauteng, the People’s Republic of China has suspended imports of cloven-hoofed animals and related products.

In response to this urgent situation, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has escalated control efforts to the Deputy Director-General’s office due to the seriousness of the matter.

“The office of the DDG has already held meetings with Veterinary Services and industry representatives to detail the actions required to curb this threat. The biosecurity, traceability and record keeping of animals bought and sold at auctions and similar industries were raised as a specific concern.”

The department added that livestock owners in the country should take note of the incubation period of FMD.

“This is a period of 2 to 14 days, within which animals can appear clinically healthy, before they start showing clinical signs generally associated with FMD,” it said.

“This highlights the importance of keeping newly bought animals separated from the resident herd for at least 28 days, even if a health attestation was issued for the animals. The health attestation and 28-day separation have been a legal requirement since October 2022.”

The department said livestock movement should be severely restricted, especially from areas with active FMD outbreaks, including KZN, the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.

To ensure compliance, farmers were reminded that Section 11 of the Animal Diseases Act imposes a legal obligation to take all reasonable steps to prevent disease infection and spread among animals.

Essential biosecurity measures include limiting the introduction of new animals and maintaining secure farm boundaries to restrict access for people and vehicles.

FMD is a controlled animal disease in terms of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984.

“Any suspicious clinical symptoms (salivation, blisters in the mouth, limping or hoof lesions) must be reported to the local State Veterinarian immediately and such animals must not be moved under any circumstances,” said the department.

“The Act prescribes certain control measures, such as isolation and movement control, that are being enforced by veterinary services.”

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