South Africa’s (SA) Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen says the country is implementing the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination programme on a large scale.
Steenhuisen revealed that 3.5 million doses of Biogenesis Bago vaccine arrived in the country to help ramp up efforts against FMD, which has plagued cattle and livestock.
Steenhuisen says that while the initial tranche of vaccinations was targeted to dairy herds, efforts will expand to the feedlot industry, red meat producer organisation, the stud breeders’ industry, provinces, as well as regional vaccinations along the country’s borders.
The country has procured a total of 13.5 million doses of FMD vaccines this year.
Steenhuisen says 14 million more doses of FMD vaccinations have been secured.
He says the government has worked closely with organised agriculture, commodity organisations, veterinarians, feedlots, processors, dairy producers and other industry stakeholders in responding to FMD.
“I can also announce that the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has approved the section 21 application for Dunevax to import 14 million doses of the Dollvet vaccine, of which the first consignment of four million doses will arrive during this month. This vaccine pipeline will ensure that we are able to deliver the required booster vaccinations. Remember, all animals have to be vaccinated twice.”
Steenhuisen says SA strongly supports the decision by ministers of the Southern African Development Community and the Livestock Technical Committee to prioritise the development of a Regional Coordination Framework for FMD control.
Steenhuisen also emphasised the critical role played by the private sector in the speedy and efficient rollout of FMD vaccinations.
“Progressive buffer zoning, compartmentalisation models, co-ordinated regional biosecurity corridors, stronger surveillance systems and improved vaccination co-operation across borders will allow us to contain outbreaks more effectively while protecting trade flows, safeguarding agricultural production and strengthening food security across the region. This framework moves us beyond fragmented national responses towards a more coordinated, risk-based and preventative regional system”, he adds.
Millions of animals have been vaccinated in all the country’s nine provinces, with KwaZulu-Natal province leading the vaccination roll-out with more than 1.5 million animals vaccinated.
