LISTEN: No slaughter, vaccinations as NW battles foot-and-mouth disease
The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
has placed five farms under quarantine following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth
disease in Potchefstroom.
Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease that affects all cloven-hoofed animals of domestic and wild origin.
Infected animals have sores in the mouth and in between the digits causing them to be depressed, reluctant to eat and be lame.
Speaking to Jacaranda FM News Dr Langa Madybi, director of the provincial department in North West, said they have opted to quarantine the animals.
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“Due to the nature of this outbreak, it is in farms that have good access control, and such movement control is possible and do-able.
“We have concluded that were not going to go the route of vaccinating animals. “
Madybi says vaccination of cattle and pigs is not permitted and needs to be approved by the director of animal health first.
“Vaccination in South Africa, if it has to be used needs to be strategically used and approved by the director of animal health.
“We going to achieve the same objective of controlling the disease with other means, without having to slaughter and without having to vaccinate.”
LISTEN TO MADYBI BELOW
