Limpopo FMD spread deliberately
We have recently been following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease that has broken out in Limpopo. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, has this month identified total number of confirmed positive locations since the start of outbreak to sixteen, with all positive cases inside the Limpopo Province.
The Department wishes to emphasize that the new cases found do not mean that the outbreak is actively spreading. It is an indication that the disease control efforts are effective in identifying positive locations, which became infected after the initial spread of the disease from specific auctions in September and October 2019.
Most of the positive locations were found as a result of the continued trace-forward and trace-back investigations of the FMD outbreak. This means that all premises with links to known positive locations and specific auctions are followed up and tested. More than 130 points were identified and precautionary quarantine has been lifted on 57 properties that have been proven negative for FMD after clinical examination and testing.
Related: More cases of Foot and Mouth reported
The Department, together with the Provincial Veterinary Services has been conducting awareness on FMD clinical signs and biosecurity measures in Limpopo Province from early December and this initiative is continuing in the new-year. Awareness was already conducted in 14 villages in the Molemole area and also during two farmers’ days.
It has however been brought to our attention that deliberate acts of spreading the disease were conducted, however authorities have intervened and have since brought the culprits to justice. Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza,MP has welcomed the arrest of an alleged auctioneer who deliberately spread the foot and mouth disease in the province of Limpopo.
The Minister wish to thank the police for their swift response in effecting the arrest. This arrest came after the department opened a case with the police following suspicious spread of Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD). The police then reported that a suspect was arrested and charged with alleged contravention of the Animals Diseases Act of 1984(Act No 35 of 1984). The suspect appeared in court on Monday the 27th 2020 and the case was postponed for further investigation until 23 March 2020.
Related: Reports of Foot and Mouth from Limpopo
The suspect was released on bail, with conditions. It is alleged that he knowingly received cloven hoofed animals that were moved out of the FMD controlled area and subsequently sold and moved those animals at various auctions and to various individuals. The Minister urges any persons/farmer who may be concerned that they may have bought cattle from this individual, or through any suspect transactions, or with any other information in connection with the illegal movement of cloven hoofed animals out of the FMD controlled area, to contact the Department’s Law Enforcement Unit, as well as their local State Vetenary Services, as soon as possible