The country is battling the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in KwaZulu-Natal province and Gauteng provinvce, threatening shortage of beef and possible higher prices.

Government says over 900 000 animals will be vaccinated in all areas that the department has prioritised.

Steenhuisen says government is looking for a long-term plan for South Africa declared free of foot and mouth disease. He says this would help boost access to market opportunities.

“We are adopting a new approach after this recent outbreak and that’s adopting a mass vaccination programme. The department has set aside R42 million to purchase vaccines. First batch of 900 000 vaccines will be with us shortly, we intend to start vaccinating in the disease management areas as well as in certain feedlots that have been affected in Gauteng and also to try and protect the sector and to get the disease under control going forward,” says Steenhuisen.

Government has moved to calm the concerns of consumers, saying the disease does not affect humans in anyway.

“Foot and mouth disease is not a disease of human beings. It has nothing to do with human beings. It does not affect them in any way whatsoever. There is no human being who ever suffered from a disease called foot and mouth disease. I am sure you are aware that we do have zoonotic meaning diseases that people take from animals but nobody has extracted or got foot and mouth from any animal because it’s not a human disease. Why is it so concerning rather, why does it concern people and scares them, it’s an economic or trade disease,” says Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi.

Steenhuisen says while the country has always bought vaccines from the Botswana Vaccine Institute, as South Africa does not manufacture these vaccines, there is a vaccine trials currently under way at the Agriculture Research Council.

He says it is hoped that once the trials have ended, South Africa can also be able to manufacture its own vaccines to reduce reliance on other countries.

--SABC--