As the number of patients treated for cholera and fatalities in the country rise, farmers are now being warned to steer clear of untreated water from dams and rivers when irrigating crops or nourishing livestock.
The cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, Gauteng has claimed 21 lives so far. Free State has also reported a death incident bringing the death toll to 22.
According to Dr Michael van der Laan, a specialist researcher at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), cholera thrives in unhygienic conditions including untreated water, especially from rivers and dams. Van der Laan is also an associate professor in agronomy and soil science at the University of Pretoria.
When asked whether livestock and crops were at risk, Van der Laan said, “Yes, absolutely. This is especially the case for vegetable crops irrigated with wastewater or polluted water.”
Van der Laan said studies from around the world indicate high risks for cholera infections when consuming vegetable crops irrigated with water contaminated with cholera. The risk can be reduced if the vegetables are well-washed or cooked before being eaten (in the same way that boiling water makes it safe to drink).
What about livestock farmers?
ARC- Veterinarian and Diagnostician, Dr Alison Lubisi, said animals do not develop cholera through infected water or food sources, but they contract other waterborne diseases like E.coli and salmonella infections. Animals contracting there pathogens do, however, display the same signs as humans infected by cholera, she explained.
“We are less worried about the other animals drinking cholera water, but dogs and cattle can get the disease from consuming very high doses of the bacteria. Salmonella, E.coli, Leptospira, Campylobacter and other infections are a problem.
“The root of these diseases is that if an animal is sick and has been infected, it gets diarrhoea and the disease causing germs are usually present in their stools, urine and secretions, which can contaminate food and water sources which other animals consume.. The bacteria are invisible and infectious, and their levels are usually very high.
Diseases lurking everywhere
Lubisi added that animals can also eat the food or grass that has been watered with the contaminated water, bringing illnesses into the mix.
She highlighted that it is very important that livestock farmers vaccinate their livestock tomake sure that they have a limited chance of getting infected. When animals are all in one yard as a closed herd it makes it easier for diseases to be controlled, because one never knows what diseases other people’s animals might have.
She also pointed out that rodent, stray animal and general pestcontrol is very importantas these may shed disease agents in their excretions such as the leptospirosis bacteriashed in rat urine. When the urine contaminates a water source or plants consumed by animals, they may develop the disease.
What livestock farmers can do?
- Prevent untreated and polluted water from mixing with the water used for irrigation.
- Prevent any human faecal matter and other wastes from entering the water supply.
- Apply chlorine to the water to be irrigated. This may be expensive though and high chlorine levels can damage plant leaves.
- Water supplies should be routinely monitored. The water should be tested for toxic substances and bacteria amongst other things. This will indicate presence of poisons and faecal contamination.
- Make sure your workers urinate and defecate in proper places and wash their hands.
- Get rid of dead carcasses. Many people throw away animals in reservoirs and rivers. This is a huge problem because the dead bodies shed bacteria and healthy animals will drink from these water sources.
- Any animal that is sick must be separated from other animals and secretions from its nostrils, mouth, anus, or genitals, must be removed as they may be highly contaminated.
- Also, disinfect the holding pen and objects that has been in contact with the sick animal and its secretions.
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