A leading veterinary and vaccinology specialist at Afrivet, Dr Baty Dungu, urges farmers and members of the public to follow government’s stringent guidelines to deal with foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in at least three provinces.
This week, the department of agriculture and rural development in KwaZulu-Natal instituted a five-year ban on the movement of cloven-hoofed animals within three districts in the province. A day later, the office of minister Thoko Didiza also confirmed that the viral infection has been detected on farms in North West and Limpopo.
Dungu says combatting FMD requires a concerted effort from the public and private sectors. As a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE) scientific commission, he says diseases like FMD are regulated on a global level.
Nicole Ludolph: What else, besides the ban on the movement of cloven-hoofed animals, needs to be implemented in order to limit the spread of FMD?
Dr Baty Dungu: While national and provincial veterinary services are doing their work, it is extremely important that farmers and members of the public, or anyone who gets in contact with cattle, follow the instructions provided by government. FMD is highly transmissible, and if proper disinfection and biosecurity are not adhered to, it spreads fairly fast and affects other susceptible animals.
South Africa lost its FMD-free status in 2019, with flare-ups occurring in May 2021 as well as January and March this year. What is the process for SA to regain its FMD-free status?
The reinstatement of the FMD-free status is granted by the OIE, through clearly defined processes described in the [terrestrial] code. Our veterinary services have issued a path that will lead to South Africa’s application for the reinstatement of the FMD-free status.
It is, unfortunately, a long process, involving first containing and eliminating the infection in the whole country or in zones to be declared free, establishing and enforcing surveillance measures, and monitoring for a period of not less than two years. The reinstatement is granted during the OIE world assembly, which takes place once a year in May, after a thorough review of the country’s application.
How is FMD spread? And what are some of the symptoms farmers need to look out for?
Highly contagious, FMD is transmitted through different means including direct contact between infected and susceptible animals. Especially by inhalation of infectious aerosols, and by direct contact of susceptible animals with fomites, which are hands, footwear, clothing, vehicles, etc.
Calves can also get FMD through ingestion of contaminated milk and through artificial insemination with contaminated semen.
Long-distance airborne spread is another way the disease moves, especially in temperate zones. It can move up to 60km overland and 300km over water. Additionally, humans can harbour the FMD virus in their respiratory tract for 24 to 48 hours, leading to the common practice of three to five days of personal quarantine for the personnel exposed.
Should any suspicious clinical symptoms like salivation, blisters in the mouth, limping or hoof lesions be seen, it should be reported to the local state veterinarian immediately and such animals must not be moved under any circumstances.
Do you have any tips for farmers around limiting the spread of FMD?
FMD is a controlled disease and by law, all suspected and confirmed cases should be reported to your local state veterinarian. They will then take control of the farms or area of outbreak, and manage it according to a well-defined veterinary procedural notice for FMD.
[This] will include several biosecurity measures such as isolation, sanitation and movement control. No animals will be allowed to move onto or from the farm. As a basic biosecurity measure, animals in areas outside of FMD outbreak should only be bought when accompanied with a declaration of health certificate issued by a herd veterinarian.
Never, never randomly buy any animals if their origin is unknown.
A good habit is also to quarantine all animals newly introduced to your farm for at least 30 days and at least 50m away from your resident herd. During the quarantine period, all required tests and immunisations can be done while animals are observed for any disease, including FMD.
Movement control of people and vehicles should also be considered and basic sanitation measures for people and vehicles and personal protective equipment, including sanitising with a long-acting disinfectant which have been validated for effectiveness on FMD virus, should be implemented.
What will be the long-term effects for SA farmers if the spread is not contained?
FMD can impact both the health of susceptible animals, but more importantly, the trade and economic activities around livestock, which in turns negatively impact their livelihood. Sadly, trade beyond just livestock can also be affected.
It is important to note that, through what is referred to as “commodity-based trade”, animal and animal products from FMD affected areas can be traded under specific conditions, including the sale of deboned meat. Such meat can be sold in FMD-free areas locally and in the international market.
We therefore need to start working together in clearly defined public-private partnerships to regain our FMD-free status from the OIE. Every farmer needs to implement biosecurity measures to the letter, by focusing on movement control, the role of humans and animals in the epidemiology of FMD, as well as sanitation, by using disinfectant products specifically registered for FMD by regulatory authorities. [These products] are long-acting, with a validated effectiveness for FMD virus.
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