Reggie Ngcobo, spokesperson of the department, says initial trace-back exercises, indicated the outbreak late last year was linked to four auctions held at two auction premises in September and October. He says testing of the primary linked locations is almost complete while several secondary locations have been identified for follow-up testing. Together with that, precautionary quarantine has already been lifted at 127 of the linked locations that have since tested negative. OFM News’ Christal-Lize Muller spoke to him…

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Ngcobo says since the start of the outbreak in November last year, a total of 19 locations where FMD broke out have been identified. The last positive location case was reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in February 26. It is also good to announce that no new positive locations have been identified since, says Ngcobo. Together with that, quarantine has been lifted on three locations with 16 properties remaining under quarantine. 

The department’s veterinary services continue to liaise with affected farmers to enable them to slaughter the cattle from quarantined feedlots at abattoirs specifically approved for this purpose. Permission has also been given to eight feedlots to continue with the safe slaughter of animals from affected premises at two abattoirs identified for this sole purpose. Ngcobo says this process is continuing and more than 9 000 animals from farms under quarantine have been safely processed. It is only when ll animals on the affected properties have been slaughtered, that the quarantine can be lifted and the farming operations can resume.

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