The recent lifting of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) management areas in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo marks a significant milestone in South Africa’s ongoing efforts to control and eradicate FMD. This development follows intensive veterinary interventions and successful containment measures, reflecting the effectiveness of coordinated private and public animal health programs.

The organisation reiterates the importance of biosecurity as a collective responsibility. “Preventing and controlling Foot and Mouth Disease requires collective effort and vigilance from all sectors of society. We commend the dedicated work of veterinary teams, organised agriculture, industry organisations and farmers. We urge all role players in the industry and South Africans interacting with livestock to uphold biosecurity measures to protect our livestock, sustain our economy, and ensure a food security,” said AgriSA CEO Johann Kotze. “

In the Eastern Cape a Disease Management Area (DMA) has been in place since July 2024. Vaccination efforts, along with extensive serological surveillance, confirmed that no undetected pockets of FMD remain. Consequently, the movement restrictions previously in effect have been lifted, paving the way for safer livestock movement and boosting confidence among farmers and stakeholders.

However, the Department of Agriculture (DoA) indicated that a total of 76 farms in the Eastern Cape which were infected and/or vaccinated remain under quarantine. Movement restrictions will remain in place on these farms until testing has confirmed the absence of viral circulation. Testing will commence 12 months after the farms were vaccinated. The DoA has decided to allow the milk from quarantined farms to be released into the local market following single pasteurisation, instead of double pasteurisation which was required when the disease was still active in the area.

In Limpopo, the DMA that was established in September 2022 achieved its containment objectives. After comprehensive surveillance, the DoA indicated that it is satisfied that the virus has been fully controlled. As a result, all restrictions in Limpopo are now removed.

The Department of Agriculture indicated that the DMA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province remains in place, with some outbreaks detected outside of the DMA. An abattoir in the Vryheid area in the DMA was designated to slaughter animals from premises under FMD restrictions. A system has been put in place to assess the level of biosecurity on individual farms.

Enquiries
Johann Kotzé, AgriSA CEO
+27 79 523 5767
jfk@agrisa.co.za