AGRICULTURAL NEWS - Agri Western Cape (AWC) and the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation Western Cape (RPOWC) provided feedback from the Provincial JOC meeting held on Monday 9 March.
In a statement issued after the meeting, AWC said good progress has been made over the past week with the vaccination programme and monitoring of possible cases in the province.
In the Mossel Bay area, there are currently six confirmed positive farms, with five suspected farms where test results are still outstanding.
In this area, 114 farms have been visited by veterinarians, 81 farms have been vaccinated, and 13 493 animals have been vaccinated to date.
A total of 29 private veterinarians is assisting with the vaccination campaign in the province in cooperation with the Western Cape Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services, and 47 700 animals have already been vaccinated.
The department has received 60 000 vaccine doses, with a further 100 000 doses expected to support the process. Most vaccines are currently being used in identified hotspot areas.
On the West Coast, there is one positive farm (Kalbaskraal) and two suspected farms within the 10 km radius, as well as one outside the radius.
A new quarantine area has been established and all affected farms have already been vaccinated. Approximately 17 000 animals on 14 farms have been vaccinated. There are also nine checkpoints around the quarantine area.
In Cape Town, 91 cattle were vaccinated during the past week. Goats in the Philippi area, which were kept in the same kraal as infected cattle, were also vaccinated.
In the Cape Winelands, the vaccination campaign in the Boland is ongoing. Stellenbosch has already been vaccinated and the vaccination process is currently underway in the Klapmuts area.
The Overberg and Central Karoo currently have no confirmed or suspected cases. In these areas, state veterinarians are focusing on awareness campaigns and training to strengthen preparedness.
Producers are urged to continue implementing strict biosecurity measures on their farms. By remaining vigilant, managing animal movement, and keeping one another informed, producers can help protect their own farms, surrounding areas, and neighbours.
AWC said cooperation and responsible action remain the strongest tools in preventing the further spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
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