KwaZulu-Natal Fights Foot-and-Mouth Disease with Increased Vaccine Supplies and Strengthened Surveillance

Strategic Insights -

The KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa is grappling with the ongoing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, which has severely impacted the red meat industry since 2019. The Ministry of Agriculture, led by Minister John Steehuisen, has announced a significant increase in vaccine supplies to combat the disease. This move comes in response to calls from the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) for the province to be declared a disaster area due to the severe implications of FMD on local livelihoods. The ministry is working closely with the industry through joint command structures to improve surveillance and rapid response.

Key Takeaways:

  • Minister John Steehuisen has announced a significant increase in vaccine supplies in KwaZulu-Natal to combat the ongoing FMD outbreak.
  • The Ministry of Agriculture has ordered vaccines to cover the KZN vaccine area, while assessment and forward and backward tracing of the outbreak in Gauteng is ongoing.
  • The Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) has implemented Phase 1 of its coordinated response to the ongoing FMD outbreak, including the establishment of an Operational Centre in Pretoria, and utilizing a national network of 177 Ruminant Private Veterinarians for daily surveillance of FMD.
  • RMIS has developed a FMD contingency plan outlining a clear step-by-step process to be followed once a suspected case is identified by a veterinarian.
  • The ministry is prioritizing the finalisation of the National Traceability Framework and will support farmer compliance through targeted technical support.
  • RMIS plans to introduce a public reporting channel for suspected animal movements in collaboration with various organized agricultural organizations in Phase 2, and integrate an electronic risk assessment and movement permit system into the RMIS platform in Phase 3.

Statistics:

  • 177 Ruminant Private Veterinarians are conducting daily surveillance of FMD as part of the national network.
  • The Operational Centre is being developed in a phased approach to ensure rapid implementation, relevance, and operational efficiency.
  • RMIS has implemented Phase 1 of its coordinated response to the ongoing FMD outbreak.
  • The ministry is working closely with the industry through joint command structures to improve surveillance and rapid response.
  • Vaccine supplies have been increased to cover the KZN vaccine area, while assessment and forward and backward tracing of the outbreak in Gauteng is ongoing.

Sources:

  • Steehuisen, John. "Address at the TMR Conference hosted by the Milk Producers Organisation." [No date provided]
  • Red Meat Industry Services. "Coordinated Response to the Ongoing Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak." [No date provided]
  • KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union. "KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union Calls for Province to be Declared Disaster Area." [No date provided]