-
A new vaccine has been sourced from Botswana.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has committed R55-million rand to boost its response to the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. The funding will secure over one million vaccine doses through Onderstepoort Biological Products and will strengthen vaccination efforts in border municipalities and hotspot districts.
The department’s spokesperson, Atule Joka, says this will also protect the province’s dairy industry and disease-free buffalo herds.
Joka says “MEC for agriculture in the Eastern Cape Nonceba Kontsiwe is encouraged by the interventions of provincial government that will help the sector recover from the setbacks caused by FMD. The outbreak poses a threat to livestock production, the dairy industry and ultimately food security. These measures will curb the spread of the disease, protect livestock and safeguard jobs in the sector.
