Foot and Mouth Disease cases have been found in multiple provinces in South Africa, may impact its beef exports.
Foot and mouth disease, or hoof and mouth disease(FMD), is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and other cloven-hoofed animals, and has severe implications for animal farming.
The agricultural department of South Africa has confirmed that the outbreak has spread across KwaZulu-Natal and Highveld. East Cape reported earlier that over 70 livestock have shown suspected symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease on a farm in the province since late April. The number of cases has continued to rise, and on May 1, laboratory tests confirmed the Foot and Mouth Disease. The Department of Agriculture has urged livestock farmers nationwide to immediately restrict animal transportation, especially for livestock from affected areas. In recent years, the world has witnessed an increasing number of animal disease outbreaks in all countries, which were caused by factors like climate change. And for the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in South Africa, the government needs to strengthen vaccine production and control, according to experts.
"South Africa, for example, just about three years ago, was struggled with all three major diseases at the same time. We had foot and mouth disease, we have avian influenza for poultry, and in the pig industry, we had African swine fever. But I would add that there are also some domestic witnesses in South Africa that are related to our production of vaccines. And perhaps we need to improve, even put under control of the movement of animals, especially in the informal areas," said Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.
Foot, mouth disease outbreaks in S. Africa threaten beef export
