Agri SA waarsku oor die uitbreek van bek-en-klouseer in die noorde van Limpopo
8 Januarie 2019 – English version follows:
Agri SA is baie bekommerd oor die aankondiging deur die Departement van Landbou, Bosbou en Visserye (DAFF) vroeër vandag dat Suid-Afrika se bek-en-klouseer-vrye status tydelik opgeskort is.
DAFF het Suid-Afrika se status opgeskort na laboratoriumtoetse die uitbreek van die siekte in die verre noordelike dele van Limpopo bevestig het. Dit beteken dat enige uitvoere waar ‘n bek-en-klouseer-vrye-sone-verklaring vereis word, nie tans gesertifiseer kan word nie.
Kenners van DAFF en Limpopo se veeartsenykundige dienste het verdere ondersoeke gedoen om resultate te verifieer en om die omvang van die uitbraak te bepaal. Beheermaatreëls sal na aanleiding van die bevindings van hierdie ondersoek in plek gestel word.
Bek-en-klouseer is ‘n ernstige, hoogs aansteeklike virussiekte wat lewende hawe affekteer met ‘n beduidende ekonomiese impak. Dit raak beeste, varke (huishoudelik en wild), skape, bokke en ander gesplete-klou diere. Dit raak nie mense nie. Tekens van bek-en-klouseer sluit in depressiewe diere en sere in die bek van diere wat maak dat die diere onwillig is om te eet.
“Enige aangemelde voorvalle van bek-en-klouseer moet met die grootste erns behandel word weens die ernstige implikasies wat hierdie hoogs aansteeklike siekte vir lewende hawe- en wildboere kan hê,” sê Janse Rabie, Agri SA Hoof van Natuurlike Hulpbronne. “Enige verdagte gevalle moet onmiddellik by die plaaslike staatsveearts aangemeld word.”
DAFF het gesê die geaffekteerde gebied is onder kwarantyn geplaas en geen beweging van diere en diereprodukte word toegelaat nie. Die saak is Maandag (7 Januarie 2019) by die Wêreldorganisasie vir Dieregesondheid (OIE) aangemeld.
Boere verder weg van die gebied is gewaarsku om bio-sekuriteitsmaatreëls in ag te neem, wat beteken dat hulle nie nuwe diere in hul kuddes moet toelaat nie en dat die beweging van hul eie kuddes na ander plase beperk moet word.
Navrae:
Janse Rabie
Agri SA Hoof: Natuurlike Hulpbronne
(S) 076 451 9601
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Agri SA warns about outbreak of foot and mouth disease in northern Limpopo
Agri SA is deeply concerned about the announcement by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) earlier today that South Africa’s Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)-free status was temporarily suspended.
DAFF suspended South Africa’s FMD-free status following laboratory testing which confirmed an outbreak of the disease in the far northern Limpopo province. This means any exports where FMD-free zone attestation is required, cannot be certified at present.
Experts from DAFF and Limpopo’s veterinary services were conducting further investigations to verify results and determine the extent of the outbreak. Control measures will be determined following the findings of this investigation.
FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral disease which affects livestock with significant economic impact. It affects cattle, pigs (domestic and wild), sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals. It does not affect human beings. Signs of FMD include depressed animals, sores in the mouths of animals causing a reluctance to eat, and lameness.
“Any reported occurrences of FMD must be treated with the utmost seriousness due to the significant implications this highly contagious disease may have for livestock and game farmers,” said Janse Rabie, Agri SA Head of Natural Resources. “Any suspected cases must be reported to the local state veterinarian immediately.”
DAFF has stated the affected area was under quarantine and no movement of animals and animal products was being allowed. The matter has been reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on Monday (January 7, 2019).
Farmers further away from the outbreak have been cautioned to observe bio-security measures, which means they must not allow any new animals into their herds, and must minimise the movement of their own herds to other farms.
Enquiries:
Janse Rabie
Agri SA Head: Natural Resources
(C) 076 451 9601
