Gauteng ramps up fight against foot-and-mouth disease

Gauteng MEC for Agriculture Vuyiswa Ramokgopa says the province is entering a decisive phase in the fight against foot-and-mouth, with the large-scale rollout of newly secured vaccines under way.
She was speaking during a media briefing on the province’s foot-and-mouth rapid response plan.
The number of confirmed cases in Gauteng has risen to 228, an increase of 55 since the last update in January.
More than 260 000 animals have been affected by the outbreak.
Ramokgopa says the rise is linked to intensified surveillance and active case finding, rather than uncontrolled spread.
“Since January, we have systematically operationalised our four-pillar rapid response plan, which, as you will recall, involved the four key areas, contain, enforce, vaccinate and communicate. In the absence of additional vaccines, containment has been our first line of defence.”
“Since our last briefing, we have now implemented a provincial animal movement control framework, to regulate the movement of animals into and out of Gauteng,” adds Ramokgopa.
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal is also set to start the vaccination of cattle on the south coast of the province against foot-and-mouth disease.
KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture MEC Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa says 20 teams of technicians will start vaccinating all cattle in the Ugu District within the next week and then move to Harry Gwala District.

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