R100m made available for foot-and-mouth vaccines in Western Cape

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS -  Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, alongside the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, have announced that R100 million has been made available to procure vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the province.

This is according to a statement shared by the Executive Mayor of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), Marais Kruger, at about 15:00 this afternoon, 8 February.

This comes after two notices were issued by the Milk Producers' Organisation, Agri Western Cape and the Western Cape Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO) this morning, informing the public of a suspected FMD outbreak amongst a dairy herd in the Mossel Bay area.

The outbreak is yet to be confirmed by the Western Cape state veterinarian.

Kruger has commended the Western Cape government's quick response to managing the possible outbreak, which included:

• The implementation of 10km biosecurity control measures at key entry points.• Restriction of animal and vehicle movements.• Proper disinfection of equipment and vehicles.• No access for unauthorised persons to farming premises.

Additionally, a system to clamp down on the movement of animals will be implemented within days.

The Western Cape Disaster Management Centre has also tabled a 21-point plan in an effort to ensure that the spread of the disease is brought under control.

"The containment and eradication of diseases require a collective effort and must be managed in the best interests of jobs and the economy. The agricultural sector is critical, as it contributes approximately R14 billion to the Western Cape economy," reads Kruger's statement.

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed/split-hoofed animals.

The Milk Producers' Organisation has encouraged farmers to immediately contact their local state veterinarian if any suspicious symptoms in animals are noticed.

More information will be made available once the results of the investigation into the suspected outbreak are confirmed.

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