Directorate Communication
National Department of Agriculture
Directorate Communication |
National Department of Agriculture |
A highly contagious disease
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• A very serious disease which spreads rapidly • Causes large-scale economic losses • Halt to exports of all animals and animal products as well as agricultural products used as animal feed
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• Short incubation period (generally 2 to 14 days)
• Formation of vesicles in the mouth and on the
feet (interdigital space, coronary band and bulbs of the heel)
• Lameness and salivation (sometimes
lacrimation), smacking of the lips, grinding of the teeth and a
nasal discharge
• Young animals may die suddenly without clinical
signs as a result of inflammation of the heart (myocarditis)
• Based on the history, epidemiology, clinical signs and pathology
• Confirmed by laboratory examination of tissue to identify and type the
virus responsible for the outbreak, as well as serological examination
• Tests include serology (ELISA—titre more than 1,5), virus neutralisation
and virus isolation
• The Republic of South Africa has a foot-and-mouth-disease-free zone
where vaccination is not practised (refer to resolution no XIV of the OIE)
• The "free zone status" was accepted by the OIE in 1995
• The Kruger National Park (KNP) is the only endemic
foot-and-mouth-disease area in South Africa, because the African buffalo
(Syncerus caffer) in the Park are permanent carriers of the virus
• Frequent outbreaks of the disease are diagnosed in cloven-hoofed game in
the KNP
• The Kruger National Park and the surrounding areas, as well as
the northern borders of country are a declared FMD controlled area in
terms of the Animal Diseases Act
• The FMD controlled area is divided
into the following control zones according to the OIE code (see map)
• The Kruger National Park (a national game reserve) is the
FMD Infected Zone
• The Park is about 350 km long and 60 to 80 km wide, fenced off by a 2,4
m electrified fence and situated in the north-eastern part of South Africa
• Regular game inspections are performed and any suspect FMD
cases are reported to the state veterinarian
• The Buffer Zone comprises the
area bordering the western and southern boundary of the KNP—about 350 km
long and 10 to 20 km wide
• All cattle (70 000 head) are vaccinated every 6 months in the Buffer Zone
and inspected (by Veterinary Services) for FMD every week
• Vaccinated cattle are branded with an `F' on the right side of the neck
• The Surveillance Zone is about 350 km long and 10 km wide and situated
to the west and the south of the Buffer Zone
• All cattle are inspected every 14 days
• No FMD vaccination is permitted in this zone
• The rest of the control zone is situated to the west of the Surveillance Zone
as well as an approximately 10 km wide area along the national borders of
South Africa with Swaziland, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Cattle
are inspected every 28 days. This is an extra protection zone.EASE (FMD)
• Strict movement control of
cloven-hoofed animals and their products is applied in
the control area
• Movement is controlled by official
veterinary permits, tests and quarantine
• Vaccinated animals are not allowed in
the FMD free zone
• In the Free Zone, the stamping-out policy
of the past will again be used in the future if an outbreak occurs
• Cordons will be erected around the
infected area
• Roadblocks on all roads leaving the infected area
• A 10 to 30 km radius of surveillance will be instituted around the
infected property
• The area will be quarantined and the source as well as the spread
of infection will be investigated
• No movement will be allowed to or from one property to another within
the quarantine area
• Only allowed in the Buffer Zone
• Vaccine is produced by Onderstepoort FMD laboratory
• Vaccine is only for official use, because all vaccinations are carried out
by Veterinary Services' officials (therefore only restricted use)
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For further information, please contact: Telephone: (012) 319 7679 |
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Directorate Communication Compiled by Directorate Communication, National Department of Agriculture Printed and published by the National Department of Agriculture |