South Africa’s (SA) Eastern Cape Province, Agriculture Department has restricted the movement of animals in the province for the next 30 days due to a detected case of foot and mouth disease.
The case was confirmed in the Amahlathi Local Municipality.
Other suspected cases have also been reported in other farms in the province. The suspected farms have been placed under quarantine.
While investigations are still ongoing in Amahlathi, the department says there is overwhelming suspicion that areas like Mbhashe local municipality, Matatiele, and the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality might be affected and that samples are currently being collected for laboratory testing.
The Department says it is experiencing infrastructural challenges which limits its ability to run tests faster.
But call for community co-operation to prevent the spread of the disease, although the department, says the produce from the infected livestock is safe for consumption, it is however concerned about the impact of this disease on the economy.
–SABC–
