BIOSEKURITEIT IS 'N PRIORITEIT VIR DEPARTEMENT VAN LANDBOU
Die Minister van Landbou, mnr John Steenhuisen, het in sy onlangse begrotingsrede beklemtoon dat biosekuriteit ‘n prioriteit vir die departement bly. Hy het ook lig gewerp op die risiko wat bek-en-klouseer vir Suid-Afrika se plaaslike produksie en handel, beide nasionaal en internasionaal, inhou.
Volgens ’n persverklaring werk die departement saam met alle belanghebbendes om te verseker dat biosekuriteitsmaatreëls toegepas word om die huidige bek-en-klouseer-uitbreking in die Oos-Kaap te bestuur. Die departement is ook voortdurend in gesprek met die Oos-Kaapse Departement van Landbou, Landelike Ontwikkeling en Landbouhervorming om te verseker dat bek-en-klouseer-beheermaatreëls ingestel word en dat die siekte nie binne die provinsie versprei nie.
In die lig van die gedeelde verantwoordelikhede vir die implementering van biosekuriteit, is die departement ook in voortdurende skakeling met die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Landbou om te verseker dat die siekte nie na die Wes-Kaap versprei nie. Altesaam 23 plase in die Humansdorp-omgewing en een plaas in die Oos-Londen-omgewing is as positief vir bek-en-klouseer bevestig.
Plekke wat bevestig is as positief vir bek-en-klouseer is deur die Oos-Kaapse provinsiale veeartsenydienste onder kwarantyn geplaas. Volledige epidemiologiese ondersoeke duur voort. Onmiddellike bure en alle gekoppelde liggings is onder voorkomende kwarantyn geplaas, hangende kliniese en serologiese ondersoeke om hul bek-en-klouseer-status te bepaal.
Altesame 46 aansoeke om nie-besmette plase in te ent, is ontvang. Van hierdie aansoeke is 30 plase toegelaat om in te ent. Inenting sal help om die verspreiding van die siekte verder te verminder.
Altesaam 17 aansoeke vir vrywillige inenting is ontvang, maar nog nie goedgekeur nie. Aansoeke vir inenting word oorweeg indien die plase binne ‘n 10 km-radius van ‘n positiewe plaas is. Die aansoeke word geprioritiseer om te verseker dat die plase met die hoogste risiko eerste ingeënt word. Daar is tydens die Gesamentlike Operasionele Komitee oor Bek-en-klouseer ooreengekom dat die beskikbare personeelhulpbronne gebruik sal word op ‘n wyse wat toelaat dat die maksimum aantal plase binne die kortste moontlike tyd ingeënt word.
Boere word opnuut versoek om biosekuriteit op hul plase toe te pas en hul eie kuddes teen besmetting te beskerm.
Indien enige verdagte kliniese simptome (speekselskeiding, blase in die mond, mank of hoefletsels) gesien word, moet dit onmiddellik by die plaaslike staatsveearts aangemeld word en sulke diere moet onder geen omstandighede verskuif word nie.
BIOSECURITY A PRIORITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The Minister of Agriculture, Mr John Steenhuisen, has in his recent budget vote emphasised that biosecurity remains a priority for the department. He also reflected on the risk that foot and mouth disease (FMD) pose for South Africa’s local production and trade, both national and international.
According to a press release, the department is working with all stakeholders to ensure that biosecurity measures are implemented to manage the current FMD outbreak in the Eastern Cape. The department is also in constant engagements with the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, to ensure that FMD control measures are implemented, and that the disease does not spread within the province.
Noting the shared responsibilities for biosecurity implementation, the department is also in constant engagements with the Western Cape Department of Agriculture to ensure that the disease does not spread to the Western Cape. The investigation into the origin and extent of the FMD outbreak in Eastern Cape continues. A total of 23 farms in the Humansdorp area and one farm in the East London area have been confirmed as positive for FMD.
Locations confirmed to be positive for FMD were placed under quarantine by the Eastern Cape Provincial Veterinary Services. Full epidemiological investigations are continuing. Immediate neighbours and all linked locations have been placed under precautionary quarantine, pending clinical and serological investigation to determine their FMD status.
A total number of 46 applications to vaccinate non-infected farms were received. Of these applications, 30 farms were permitted to vaccinate. Vaccination will assist to further reduce the spread of the disease.
A total of 17 applications for voluntary vaccination have been received, but not yet approved. Applications are considered for vaccination if the farms are within the 10 km radius of a positive farm. The applications are prioritised to ensure that the farms at highest risk are vaccinated first. It was agreed during the Joint Operations Committee on FMD that the available personnel resources will be used in a manner that allows for the maximum number of farms to be vaccinated in the shortest time possible.
Farmers are again urged to observe biosecurity on their farms and to protect their own herds from becoming infected
Should any suspicious clinical symptoms (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.