Steenhuisen to ask Cabinet to declare foot-and-mouth outbreak state of disaster

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen will soon ask Cabinet to declare the foot-and-mouth outbreak a state of disaster.

He said that such a declaration will mobilise law enforcement support to curb the movement of animals, the main contributor to the spread.

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Steenhuisen announced on Wednesday a mass vaccination campaign to get the outbreak under control, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, the epicentre of the disease.

He said the department is still trying to get approval for the import of vaccines that are not registered for use in South Africa.

Once permits are issued, he expects a million doses to arrive within a fortnight.

“We need the relevant authorities to assist us with manning roadblocks and ensuring that a very strong message is sent out that the undocumented movement of animals has to come to an end. Again, the disease is spread through infected animals being moved into areas where they contaminate non-infected animals. That is how FMD is spread.”