The first confirmed case of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Western Cape has been linked to a farm near Gouda, prompting an immediate quarantine and control measures to contain the outbreak.
The farm was initially placed under quarantine on 1 November amid a suspected case of FMD, believed to be linked to the recent movement of cattle from the province to the Free State.
On 6 November, the Western Cape Veterinary Services confirmed that laboratory tests had returned positive results for FMD.
Two additional farms in the Velddrif and Bredasdorp areas were also placed under quarantine, as cattle from these properties are believed to have been moved to the affected farm.
“All properties housing cloven-hoofed animals within a 10 km radius of the affected farm have also been quarantined,” the statement said.
Veterinary teams are conducting inspections and surveillance in the area to determine the extent of the outbreak.
According to the department: “an investigation into the transport company involved is underway, and all farms that have had contact with this company in the past 30 days will be traced and inspected.”
Farmers and livestock owners are being urged not to move any cloven-hoofed animals while the outbreak is being assessed.
All livestock movements into or within the province must be reported via the Animal Movement App, and by law must be accompanied by an owner’s declaration confirming the origin and health status of the animals, as well as a recipient’s declaration confirming that animals will be kept in isolation for at least 28 days upon arrival.
All livestock movements into or within the province must be reported via the Animal Movement App.
