NOORDWESTER – LICHTENBURG – During the recent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Information Day hosted by NWK last week, the office of the Director Veterinary Services gave an update on progress that has been made with the approval of the Regulations of the Pounds Act 07 of 2010.
Dr Langa Madyibi mentioned that there is transitioning from the National Pounds Act to Provincial Acts. The North West Act was promulgated in 2010, but lacked regulations and could therefore not be enacted.
The regulations were developed by stakeholders and needed to be approved by the MEC for Cogta (Cohugta).
The process was initiated by the MEC of the Department of Agriculture, where the competency for regulations is based, through a submission to the Cogta MEC - the approving authority.
The control of diseases and the running of veterinary services is currently regulated by the Animal Diseases Act. There is an ongoing process wherein the Act is being repealed and being replaced by the Animal Health Act. The latter Act regulations have not been approved by the President. The fundamental differences between the two acts is in the delegation of authority from a centralised power and devolving it to provincial Directors of Veterinary Services.
The speaker highlighted the steps which the regulatory authority undertakes during an outbreak of FMD. First, there is the issuing of a quarantine notice in seeking to confine the disease in the locality where the outbreak has occurred. The quarantine notice is a legal document with clear instructions to the farmer.
Next, the strategy of vaccination is initiated in order to reduce the viral load and prevent the spread of the disease – but it does not prevent the animals from being re-infected again. Vaccination can help to keep the animals (as in the case of breeders) or it can be used to prepare the animals for slaughter.
Animals that are vaccinated with the intention to live will remain under quarantine for a period of 12 months after which tests will be conducted to determine whether the virus is still circulating and for the purpose of deciding to lift the quarantine notice. The tests that are performed at the end of the 12 months will differentiate between active viral infection and residual evidence of vaccination and infection (DIVA tests).
Animals that will be slaughtered can be slaughtered at different times after Day 0 has been determined. Any risk-based losses that the farmer will incur, depends on which stage after Day 0 they slaughter the animals.
Dr Madyibi also outlined the proposed vaccination strategy that has been adopted by the country, which will be implemented as soon as vaccines are imported. This strategy has four phases and will be rolled out over a period of 7-10 years, aimed at freeing the country from the disease without vaccination.
The components that are important for each one of the phases to be successful include intensive vaccination, strengthened surveillance, enhanced movement control, laboratory capacity reinforcement and to establish buffer zones and compartments.
He mentioned the leg of animals’ movement control as an important leg of FMD control which is a principle that is contained in the FMD VPN of 2014. There was also elaborate description of the WOAH concepts of zoning and compartmentalisation which he explained can be based on geographical basis or on uniqueness of individual properties biosecurity.
He emphasised the need to protect through controlled animal movements high value farming business enterprises and buffalo farms from being infected by the disease.
