Foot-and-mouth disease CONTROL

The increased frequency of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in South Africa is disturbing and reflects a failure of the relevant authorities to effectively control the disease. The economic impact of this disease on agriculture and on the country in general is devastating. Given the South African Veterinary Services' self-proclaimed mandate to control this disease, their failure to do so must be objectively reviewed both by industry and government themselves.

“The economic impact of this disease on agriculture and on the country in general is devastating.”

History of FMD in SA

FMD spreads rapidly and some species such as African buffalo become long-term carriers of the virus. While FMD seldom causes fatalities in livestock it has a severe effect on commercial animals, especially exotic breeds of animals, causing loss of production