The intensive investigation conducted by a team of experts from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) in KwaZulu-Natal has revealed that animals were moved from Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal to a feedlot in Gauteng.
The feedlot in Gauteng whose identity cannot be disclosed in terms of the Animal Diseases Act 35 of 1984, has since been placed under quarantine as a precautionary measure while the matter is being investigated further.
Samples were also collected from the said feedlot and came back positive on serology, but negative on non-structural proteins (NSP) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which means that the fragments of the virus cannot be found. This can be interpreted as an old infection with no virus circulating.
Vryheid remains in the protection zone - an area which prevents diseased animals from coming into contact with healthy ones - as per DAFF’s declaration. Samples collected in this area have tested negative for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).The department was also informed that there were two animals with a suspicious origin which may have come from the infected area.
The department, together with the Gauteng veterinary authorities, has met up with the affected feedlot management and put up a control strategy in place to ensure that the rest of the animal population in the country is protected.
The owners of the farm are cooperating with the department, and the matter will be speedily resolved.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries urges all, especially speculators who may have bought or exchanged animals through various means in the FMD infected area in KwaZulu-Natal since January 2011, to report such movement to the nearest veterinary office.
For more information contact:
Selby Bokaba
Cell: 082 778 0245
Dr Mpho Maja
Cell: 082 323 0166
Dr Botlhe Modisane
Cell: 082 377 0865
