Latest news with #OnderstepoortVeterinaryInstitute
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Foot and mouth disease outbreak in North West
An outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) has been reported in the JB Marks municipality in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district in the North West, the provincial department of agriculture and rural development said on Tuesday. In the first incident, the department was alerted by a private veterinarian who had visited a farm and saw suspicious signs. The state veterinarian collected samples, which were sent to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute to test for the disease. Another incident was detected at an abattoir in Madibeng. The clinical signs of the affected animals were missed at ante-mortem inspection but were detected on the slaughter line during the meat inspection process, the department said. Tissue samples were sent to the laboratory and the results confirmed both SAT 2 and SAT 3 types of the virus. The unslaughtered animals were escorted back to the farm of origin, a feedlot in Ventersdorp, through a Red Cross permit. 'Both farms linked to the outbreak have been put under quarantine, prohibiting the movement of animals and animal products,' the department said. The department has also identified all the farms that are linked to the Gauteng outbreak and those farms were being sampled for testing. All these farms have been put under precautionary quarantine until the test results are back.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
North West province faces Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak: Authorities respond
Authorities have confirmed that Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) was detected in North West Province. Image: Nicola Mawson Foot and Mouth Disease Detected in North West Province An outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has hit livestock farms in the North West province, prompting emergency containment measures, quarantine orders, and a national industry-wide response to stop the spread of the highly contagious animal virus. The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed that two separate incidents of FMD were detected in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, within the JB Marks Local Municipality. One of the outbreaks was flagged by a private veterinarian who observed suspicious symptoms during a routine farm visit. Samples tested at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute confirmed the presence of the virus. In a second case, the disease was picked up at an abattoir in Madibeng. While the animals showed no symptoms during the ante-mortem inspection, FMD lesions were discovered on the slaughter line. Tissue samples confirmed the presence of both SAT 2 and SAT 3 serotypes of the virus. The remaining animals, which had not yet been slaughtered, were returned to their farm of origin in Ventersdorp under a Red Cross permit. Both the Ventersdorp feedlot and the farm linked to the first incident have been placed under strict quarantine, with no animal movements allowed in or out. The Department has also begun tracing farms linked to the ongoing outbreak in Gauteng. These farms are being sampled and placed under precautionary quarantine while laboratory tests are pending. Authorities have stressed that the cooperation of all livestock owners is critical to containing the spread of the disease. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and various wildlife species. The virus spreads rapidly through contact with infected animals, contaminated equipment, or people moving between farms. Common clinical signs include fever, lameness, and painful sores in the mouth, on the feet, and around the teats. Although FMD rarely causes death in adult animals, it can result in severe production losses and trade restrictions. Farmers and veterinarians have been urged to remain on high alert and report any suspected cases to their local State Veterinary Services immediately. The Department has also reminded the public and the agricultural sector that movement of animals without permits from affected areas is prohibited. In response to the outbreak, Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) has activated its Operational Centre and commenced the first phase of its national response plan. A dedicated FMD Working Group, consisting of leading veterinarians, researchers, and industry experts, has been formally appointed to coordinate disease containment, guide vaccination campaigns, and support long-term biosecurity improvements in the red meat sector. The strategic response plan, independently drafted by Professor Dietmar Holm from the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Veterinary Science, outlines structured, time-bound actions to reduce the spread of the virus, limit disruptions to trade, and protect the integrity of South Africa's red meat value chain. According to RMIS, the plan includes increased surveillance, clear communication with stakeholders, and the development of sustainable practices to minimise the risk of future outbreaks. As the response progresses, RMIS will issue regular updates on developments and further containment efforts.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Foot and mouth disease detected in the North West
Foot and mouth disease detected in the North West The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has confirmed an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, specifically within the JB Marks Local Municipality in the North West. In the first case, the department was alerted by a private veterinarian, who visited a farm and noted suspicious signs. A state veterinarian then collected samples, which were sent to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute for testing. Another incident of FMD was detected at an abattoir in Madibeng. 'The clinical signs of the affected animals were missed at ante-mortem inspection but were detected on the slaughter line during the meat inspection process. 'Tissue samples were sent to the laboratory, and the results came back confirming both SAT 2 and SAT 3 types of the virus. 'The unslaughtered animals were escorted back to the farm of origin, a feedlot in Ventersdorp, through a Red Cross permit,' the department confirmed in a statement. The department has placed both farms associated with the outbreak under quarantine, which prohibits the movement of animals and animal products. In addition, the department has identified all farms connected to the Gauteng outbreak and is conducting tests to determine whether any of them are positive for the infection. 'All such farms have also been put under precautionary quarantine until the test results are back.' The department stated that any suspected case of FMD in susceptible animals must be reported to the local state veterinarian immediately. FMD is a highly contagious viral infection that affects cloven-hoofed animals and can impact some other species as well. The main clinical signs of the disease include fever, lameness and the appearance of blisters and sores in the mouth, feet and teats. In recent months, outbreaks have occurred in five of the nine provinces in South Africa, with KZN experiencing the most significant impact. Early this month, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen announced that the department had ordered 901 200 doses of vaccines at a value of over R70m. The national department said this means that over 900 000 animals will be vaccinated in all areas that the department has prioritised. The department stated that Limpopo and Mpumalanga will also conduct routine vaccinations, which are conducted three times a year, with some of the vaccines going to Gauteng and KZN. Meanwhile, last week, Cabinet announced plans to establish a biosecurity council that will bring together the SAPS, veterinarians, scientists, the Border Management Authority and captains of industry to better respond to future outbreaks and manage the related risks. – Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
