Foot and mouth disease

Ezile Binta

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease in animals. It is one of the most serious livestock diseases and affects hoofed animals such as cattle, goats, pigs, and sheep.

Foot and mouth disease spreads quickly from one animal to another especially in humid weather. The virus survives at temperatures below 4°C. But it becomes ineffective as temperatures rise. You can see the symptoms after two weeks of being infected. The animal dies within 24 hours.

The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, announced that the country has imposed measures to combat the situation for 116 days. The foot and mouth disease affects farms, feedlots and rural farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State and Gauteng province.

Didiza requested that farmers, chiefs, and residents cooperate with the government to stop the distribution of cattle around the country for a period of three weeks to try to stop the spread of FMD.

The Minister emphasised that high cooperation from all involved is important to achieve control of the outbreak of FMD that has within two weeks spread across two provinces in 15 different areas.

“It is important that everyone respects all measures that have been put in place until a solution is found,” said Minister Didiza.

How is foot and mouth disease spread?

The virus travels through the air we breathe, blisters, saliva, milk, and undercooked meat. The spread of the disease occurs under favourable weather conditions. The disease can spread over long distances. Animals acquire the virus either through direct contact with an infected animal or contact with food from a contaminated area through the illegal movement of animals to controlled areas and auctions.

Cattle movement allowed:

• Cattle to be slaughtered in slaughterhouses must be permitted.

• Cows to be slaughtered for funerals must be examined by a veterinarian and have documents showing approval for the delivery of the cow.

Effects of foot and mouth disease:

• Losing animals due to death

• Milk loss in dairy farms

• Chronic mastitis may develop

• The price of cattle permanently reduced

• Animal abortion

• Border closure leading to no animals being exported

• Production of wool

• The negative impact on meat businesses

• Prices

• Difficulty for smallholder farmers

Symptoms:

• Sores and pimples in the animal’s mouth and drooling.

• Milk production decreases

• High temperature

• Sleeps frequently and does not want to get up

• Lameness and leg ulcers

Restriction:

Contact the agricultural officer, veterinarian, or police if an animal shows symptoms or someone is not following the rules. Make sure the safety precautions are followed by the workers when an animal is found to have this disease and it must be kept aside for a period of one month.

A dead animal due to this disease must be burned and not eaten because this disease also spreads to humans.