8 January 2009
An anthrax vaccination campaign by the Department of Agriculture and Land
Reformâs Veterinary Services Unit is in full force and is yielding dividends on
farms surrounding towns of Campbell, Delportshoop, Ulco and settlements such as
Gong Gong, Longlands and Sydney-on-Vaal. The number of reported carcasses had
been relatively low.
The campaignâs success is attributed to the immediate dutiful descent on the
affected areas by teams of the departmentâs animal health technicians from a
range of provincial towns, targeting an animal population of over 5 000 in an
area endemic to anthrax since 1842.
The vaccination campaign started in December 2008 amid a commercial farmer
at Campbell having reported the loss of 58 sheep suspected not to have been
vaccinated against anthrax. Subsequent to that, farms in the Ulco and
Delportshoop areas also became affected with a game species mortality of mainly
oryx and kudu being reported.
Based on the history, topography, natural and artificial barriers, a
quarantine barring in-and-out movement of animal products was implemented. The
current quarantine had been carried out in an effort to contain the
outbreak.
Farmers in the quarantined zone are requested to:
* adhere to the control regulations that had been issued to them, and
* to immediately report any sudden mortality and to desist from opening
carcasses
Enquiries:
Thabo Mothibi
Cell: 083 255 8840
Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Land, Northern Cape Provincial
Government
8 January 2009
