This comes after a total of 15 confirmed positive locations were confirmed since the start of the outbreak last year in November. More than 130 points were identified with possible links to specific auctions and known affected properties. Follow-up investigations and the collection of samples were already performed on 95 of these points and precautionary quarantine has been lifted on 44 properties that have been proven negative for the disease. Some of these properties are feedlots. The department’s Dr Botlhe Modisane, technical spokesperson on foot-and-mouth, says some of these properties have been contaminated because of neighbouring contaminated properties and does not necessarily apply to the spread of the disease. 

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Botlhe says controlled slaughterings will take place at the infected feedlots, while farmers from the affected commercial farms in question still need to be consulted. All properties where the disease has been confirmed have been placed under quarantine and cloven-hoofed animals are not allowed to move off the quarantined properties. Guidelines and application procedures have been finalised for animals on FMD quarantined properties to undergo early slaughter at designated abattoirs with specific conditions to prevent the spread of the disease.

According to him, the department prefers not to resort to the use of vaccines for cattle infected with foot-and-mouth disease. He says using the vaccines might be complicating the situation because there might be an increase in the number of animals that will test positive after all. The department will rather resort to controlled slaughtering.

He confirms that the disease has not spread to other provinces.

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