Drakenstein now under quarantine amid latest foot-and-mouth outbreak
The vaccinations form part of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s 21-point action plan to combat the national FMD outbreak in the Western Cape, where the Department of Agriculture will deploy veterinarians and animal health technicians to vaccinate about 450 cattle.
Image: Theolin Tembo/Independent Newspapers
THE Drakenstein Municipality has become the latest to be placed under immediate veterinary quarantine at the weekend following a confirmed Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) case in the area.
“As a precautionary measure, all cloven-hoofed animals (such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs) in Drakenstein Municipality are suspected of infection. Therefore, movement of animals or potentially contaminated materials (including feed, equipment or carcasses) is strictly prohibited unless authorised by a special permit issued by the State Veterinarian,” the municipality said in a statement.
These measures follow the confirmation of a positive case in Vlakkeland, Paarl on February 6. The quarantine will remain in place until officially lifted.
The vaccinations form part of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s 21-point action plan to combat the national FMD outbreak in the Western Cape, where the Department of Agriculture will deploy veterinarians and animal health technicians to vaccinate about 450 cattle.
Image: Theolin Tembo/Independent Newspapers
Drakenstein Municipality’s Safety and Community Services is cooperating with and supporting the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and relevant authorities to ensure the effective implementation of control measures.
Drakenstein mayor Stephen Korabie said the municipality has been assisting farmers by providing water for the animals every day.
The latest quarantine measures in the Western Cape come days after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) as a national disaster in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen was on Sunday among government officials overseeing the mass vaccination of livestock against FMD disease in the Fisantekraal area. He was joined by Premier Alan Winde, as well as Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Dr Ivan Meyer.
Winde said that the province has been relatively free of FMD, and the free-roaming cattle were vaccinated to minimise the risk.
He said none of the cattle vaccinated had tested positive for FMD, and they were being proactive.
“We had one outbreak in November last year, which we contained very, very quickly and dealt with it, and then we didn't have any more symptoms being shown or outbreaks until 10 days ago in Mbekweni, Paarl. We immediately called our disaster management team together, and they got vaccinated immediately.
“Since then, over the last 10 days, we've had various outbreaks. We've had some in Makhaza, Mfuleni, in the Khayelitsha region, exactly the same thing.
“We have one other outbreak that's in the dairy system between Mossel Bay and George,” Winde said.
Cape Times