Authorities in South Africa’s (SA) Garden Route are racing to contain the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the Mossel Bay area of the Western Cape Province.
So far, two confirmed cases have been identified at farms in Hartenbos, with additional suspected cases still awaiting laboratory confirmation in the George area.
During his State of the Nation Address last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the outbreak a National Disaster.
It began with a single confirmed case on a dairy farm and the farm was immediately quarantined and vaccinated.
A week later, another farm in close proximity tested positive and containment is now the priority.
A strict ten-kilometre quarantine zone now surrounds the affected areas.
Vehicles have to be disinfected before entering and unnecessary visits to farms have been discouraged.
–SABC–
