MEDIA RELEASE
Att : ALL EDITORS
Media Houses
Date: Tuesday, 10 May 2022
Mahikeng-The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the North West Province has started with the second round of testing for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) as well as the inspection of farms in the JB Marks Local Municipality area (where the first case of FMD in the province was first reported.) This exercise, which started on the first week of May 2022, will continue for the next two to three weeks and it is set to cover all farms in the whole 10 km radius of the farm where the first outbreak was determined.
According to the Director for Veterinary Services in the North Wes Province Dr Langa Madybi, the tests and inspection of farms is done to determine if there is no virus that was still in incubation during the last tests and will manifest when its incubation finishes. “These tests are coupled with inspection for clinical signs and will serve as the basis for deciding on lifting the quarantine or not,” Dr Madybi emphasized. He also mentioned that sixty six (66) samples were taken from three (3) different farms where these tests were conducted for the week ending on the 06th May 2022 and no additional farms were quarantined. Since the re-testing exercise, eight (8) farms have already been attended to and a total of one thousand five hundred and fifteen (1515) cattle, hundred and eighty one (181) sheep and thirty five (35) goats have been inspected.
Although the disease has not spread beyond the point where it was arrested in, farmers in the province are still urged to use caution when sourcing cattle. They are advised to ensure that they know the health of the animals they are buying. They are also advised to be on the lookout for signs that resemble the disease and report them immediately to the nearest State Veterinary office.
Issued by
Communication Services Directorate
Enquiries: Ms Emelda Setlhako
Tel: 018 389 5684/ Cell: 060 745 4020
Email: ESetlhako@nwpg.gov.za
Website:www.nwpg.gov.za/dard
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Twitter: @nwpg _dar