The Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has assured the country that the meat consumed from animals infected with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is not a threat to human health and safe to consume. Steenhuisen alongside Gauteng Agriculture MEC, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa conducted an oversight visit at Karaan Beef Feedlot in Heidelberg to witness the vaccination of cattle as part of government’s fight against FMD. The visit comes after the country received the first batch of about 900 000 vaccine doses from Botswana.
According to Steenhuisen, a second batch will be ordered to continue responding to the outbreak particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, where it reportedly caused losses amounting to hundreds of millions of rands. The outbreak was also recorded in the North West and Limpopo provinces A stern warning was sent to those found to be in violation of regulations regarding the movement of livestock from disease management areas and the operation of auctions. The minister warned that the vaccination alone will not be effective if there is non-compliance to precautionary measures.
He highlighted that trade activity will resume upon the confirmation from Veterinarian Services across all levels of government that FMD has been contained. Steenhuisen guaranteed that surveillance has been ramped up to trace and monitor the outbreak.FMD-positive properties have been placed under quarantine and vaccination of affected animals has commenced.
