Cattle vaccination underway at the Colbourne Diary farm near Mooi River.
Image: X
The Western Cape has received 100 000 additional Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine doses to be distributed across the West Coast, Cape Winelands and Garden Route districts, where containment efforts are currently focused.
This comes as authorities ramp up a province-wide vaccination campaign to protect livestock and the agricultural economy.
The provincial government said the rollout forms part of a coordinated response led by a provincial “war room”, which meets regularly to monitor progress and coordinate action among government and agricultural stakeholders.
So far, the vaccination programme has seen 48,612 animals vaccinated, with 276 vaccination sites established across the province. The effort is being supported by 29 private veterinarians assisting state veterinarians, while the province has now received a total of 162 120 vaccine doses.
The Western Cape government has also stepped up movement control measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Warning road signs have been placed along major highways connecting the province to neighbouring regions, while checkpoints have been established along several key routes.
Authorities say the response is guided by a 21-point FMD response plan, which includes strict livestock movement controls, continuous border monitoring, surveillance and traceability measures, and enforcement of communication and by-law protocols.
The plan also outlines recovery measures such as cleaning operations and monitoring quarantine areas.
Premier Alan Winde said: “All of this progress is made possible through collaboration."
“We will continue to intensify the response plan to protect this critical sector of our economy. I personally chair a weekly joint operation meeting with all stakeholders, including municipalities, to ensure that everything is being done to manage this crisis. In everything we do, we aim to protect growth, livelihoods and jobs.”
Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, said the additional vaccine doses would significantly boost the province’s vaccination drive.
“The arrival of the 100 000 additional vaccine doses in the Western Cape marks a significant turning point. It means we can now accelerate vaccinations across the province, ensuring that we protect our livestock, support our farmers and strengthen this vital sector of our economy.”
The Garden Route District Municipality, provincial government and Agri Western Cape confirmed FMD outbreaks on six farms in the Mossel Bay area.
Test results are pending for six more sites. Eighty-seven farms have been vaccinated.
"There has been no official response from the SANDF regarding the request for assistance at vehicle control points. The municipality is also still awaiting the official FMD infectious material waste management protocol currently being developed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP)."
The provincial government's Local State Veterinarian, Dr Leana Janse van Rensburg, emphasised that people are required to not move unnecessary between farms, but if needed, that good biosecurity measures be applied to help prevent the spread of FMD.
Cape Times