South Africa’s agricultural sector is being warned to stay vigilant against animal diseases, despite the country’s current safe status. This follows a recent outbreak of bird flu in the United States that has infected dairy cows and even transmitted to humans in rare cases.
The call for heightened awareness comes from Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz. He emphasises the importance of biosecurity, the measures taken to prevent the spread of diseases, as the country ramps up its red meat and livestock product exports.
Sihlobo points to previous disease outbreaks in Mzansi, such as foot and mouth disease and African swine fever, as evidence of vulnerabilities in the country’s biosecurity system. These outbreaks not only impacted farmers financially but also temporarily halted exports, demonstrating the significant economic consequences.
Fortunately, the country has learned from these challenges. The recent recovery in beef and wool exports, up 3% and 18% year-on-year respectively, signifies the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector to strengthen biosecurity.
Sihlobo said, “The temporary closure of certain export markets was costly to beef farmers and wool growers. The upside of the difficulty was the realization that the government and private sector must work collaboratively to enhance the country’s biosecurity system.”
Looking ahead: Increased investment and vigilance
However, Sihlobo stresses the need for continued investment in animal health. Increased global occurrences of complex animal diseases necessitate stronger surveillance systems and a rapid response capability from regulators.
He said, “South Africa must apply more resources to strengthen livestock health in the coming years. This is vital for South Africa to remain a reliable supplier of red meat, wool, and other livestock products in the world market.”
US bird flu outbreak a wake-up call
The recent bird flu outbreak in the US serves as a stark reminder of the constant threat of animal diseases. While South Africa is currently free from this specific strain, Sihlobo stresses the importance of staying alert and maintaining close communication with government to monitor any potential risks.
He added, “After noticing the news of this outbreak on 12 April, we communicated with the leadership at South Africa’s department of agriculture, land reform and rural development to understand if this matter is under monitoring and the country remains safe. Indeed, South Africa remains secure, and this issue is primarily in a couple of states in the US.”
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