Key Takeaways
- The South African government has unveiled a 10-year plan to declare the country foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free by 2036.
- The plan includes phased approaches of vaccinations and enhanced biosecurity measures, with a goal of vaccinating 80% of cattle in high-risk provinces and 100% in feedlots and dairy farms.
- The government is preparing to declare the FMD outbreak a national disaster to restrict the movement of cattle and contain the outbreak.
- Approximately R1.8 billion will be spent on the vaccine strategy, with partnerships with global leaders like Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina to ensure a reliable supply of vaccines.
- The department aims to reduce outbreak incidence by more than 70% in high-risk provinces within 12 months through systematic vaccination and preserve FMD-free provinces through buffer vaccination and strict movement controls.
Introduction to the FMD Outbreak
The foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in South Africa has been a major concern for the agriculture industry, with the country losing its FMD-free status in 2019. The outbreak has had a significant financial impact, with an Eastern Cape dairy farm losing R100 million due to one outbreak. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has unveiled an ambitious plan to declare the country FMD-free by 2036, with a 10-year strategy that includes phased approaches of vaccinations and enhanced biosecurity measures.
The 10-Year Plan
The 10-year plan aims to vaccinate 80% of cattle in high-risk provinces and 100% in feedlots and dairy farms. The plan also includes the use of live tracking systems to monitor the movement of cattle and prevent the spread of the disease. Steenhuisen emphasized that vaccinations would not be a "silver bullet" to combat the outbreak, but rather part of a long-term commitment to the health of the economy and the security of the food supply. The department is also preparing a memo to present to Cabinet to approve the disease outbreak as a national disaster, which will help restrict the movement of cattle and contain the outbreak.
Vaccine Procurement and Production
The department has procured two million doses of vaccines so far, but the process has been dogged by delays. Steenhuisen conceded that timelines to procure one million vaccines from the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) each month could not be met, as the institute was closing its factory for cleaning purposes. However, the department has obtained approvals and permits to procure vaccines internally, from Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina, and the Dollvet vaccine in Turkey. The department is also expected to send an application to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to register the Biogénesis vaccine, before it can be distributed. Additionally, vaccines will soon be produced locally from the Agriculture Research Council (ARC), and the Onderstepoort Biological Product, which will include 20,000 doses per week, and increase to 960,000 doses.
Financial Impact and Funding
The FMD outbreak has had a significant financial impact on the agriculture industry, with the department estimating that approximately R1.8 billion will be spent on the vaccine strategy. Steenhuisen stated that the goal was to reduce outbreak incidence by more than 70% in high-risk provinces within 12 months through systematic vaccination and preserve FMD-free provinces through buffer vaccination and strict movement controls. The department is also partnering with global leaders like Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina to ensure a reliable supply of vaccines.
Response to Criticism
Steenhuisen responded to criticism from stakeholders that there has been a lack of communication from the department on outbreaks and the rollout of vaccines. He stated that the department has a strategy and has deployed two million doses of vaccines so far, but acknowledged that there have been capacity issues in deploying the vaccine due to a shortage of state vets. Steenhuisen emphasized that the department is confident that appealing from a humane aspect to help animals, they will have enough practitioners around the country to help with vaccination.
Conclusion and Future Plans
The South African government is committed to declaring the country FMD-free by 2036, and the 10-year plan is a significant step towards achieving this goal. The plan includes phased approaches of vaccinations and enhanced biosecurity measures, with a goal of vaccinating 80% of cattle in high-risk provinces and 100% in feedlots and dairy farms. The department is also partnering with global leaders like Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina to ensure a reliable supply of vaccines. With the rollout of vaccines and the implementation of the 10-year plan, the department is confident that the country will be declared FMD-free within 10 years, and trade can resume with regions like the European Union and China which have blocked trade since the outbreak.
