South Africa's Free State province has reported a new clinically confirmed foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) case in the Fauresmith state veterinary area, taking its total to 799 cases, of which 155 remain active, according to figures released by the provincial Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs on 25 September. Cases have been confirmed in 19 local municipalities, led by Kroonstad with 126, Heilbron with 97, Frankfort with 81 and Bethlehem with 75.

Under the national risk-based vaccination strategy, 1,658,490 cattle have had a first vaccination with Biogénesis Bagó and Dollvet vaccines, and farmers have vaccinated another 5,895, for a total of 1,664,385. Priority goes to infected premises, neighbouring and linked farms and other high-risk areas; limited vaccine supply means not every request can be met yet.

The department received 128 notifications from farmers intending to vaccinate their own herds, which they can do after becoming authorised persons through the National FMD Reporting System. It warned that some owners are failing to report suspected cases, which must be reported to the state vet on the day they are found, and reminded auctioneers and feedlots that the national control measures of 8 July apply to them. The report was written by Hanlie du Plessis.

Photo: Justinjerez / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Source: Farmers Weekly South Africa