Animal Health and Welfare Programme

The current threat of foot and mouth disease virus

The single greatest risk of introducing Foot and mouth disease (FMD) into the Western Cape is with the introduction of infected livestock (cattle, sheep and goats), but anything that had contact with an infected animal or its environment can spread the disease. These include animal products (milk, meat, wool, etc.), their feed and bedding, people working or in contact with infected animals and their clothes, shoes, etc. and any object, including the vehicles and handling equipment that had contact with any secretions (dung, urine, saliva, milk) of FMD infected animals. Infected animals can be infectious to other cloven-hoofed animals, even though the animals may not appear sick.

The effect of introducing this highly infectious animal disease into our province will be catastrophic, not only for the affected animal and human populations, but also for the economy of this province. It endangers food security, trade, jobs and the mental well-being of animal owners and farming communities.

The responsibilities of livestock transporters

Section 11 of the Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984) assigns certain responsibilities, not only to the owners of animals, but also to the owners or managers of land on which animals are kept, as well as to their staff, agents and family.

For clarity, the relevant clauses related to livestock transport from Section 11 reads:

1. To take all reasonable steps to prevent infection of the animals with any animal disease or parasite.
2. To prevent the spreading thereof from that land or animals.
3. If there is a reasonable suspicion that it is controlled animal disease, to report it to the local state veterinarian.
4. To prevent/limit the spread of parasites such as ticks, animals may only be moved if they are visibly free from external parasites, as required in Regulation 20 (iii).