18.02.2026
Latest

Authorities working to contain spread of foot and mouth in Mossel Bay

7 mins



  • Livestock prepared for vaccination in Fisantekraal, Cape Town as government works to contain the spread of foot and mouth disease.

Authorities are racing to contain the spread of foot and mouth disease in the Mossel Bay area of the Western Cape. One confirmed case has been identified on a dairy farm in Hartenbos, with additional suspected cases still awaiting confirmation.

During his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the outbreak a National Disaster.

In the Garden Route, the outbreak began with a single confirmed case on a dairy farm last week. The index farm was immediately quarantined and livestock vaccinated.

Since then, veterinary teams have identified additional farms within a 10 kilometre radius showing clinical signs. Results are still pending. The province’s MEC for Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, says containment is now the priority.

” So far, we have five confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease in the Western Cape. It is in Mbwekeni in Drakenstein, Mfuleni, Kalkfontein, Makazha and Mossel Bay in the Garden Route. All cases have been quarantined and vaccinated. There is also one suspect case in Klapmuts and three suspect cases surrounding the confirmed case in Mossel Bay.”

VIDEO | Farmers across the country are calling for faster roll-out of FMD vaccination:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWMaqT5-A9Q
Dr Leana Janse van Rensburg is the state vet for the region.

” So, the index farm was vaccinated on Wednesday. We started with our inspections within a three kilometre radius around the farm. We found two adjacent farms that did have lesions in their mouth so we started vaccinating those two farms. Over the weekend we had another farm within the 10 kilometre radius showing clinical signs, so our technicians went in on Saturday and vaccinated those animals as well. We are continuing with our 10km radius inspections at the moment to determine how far the outbreak has spread.”

A strict 10 kilometre quarantine zone now surrounds the affected area. Vehicles have to be disinfected before entry and unnecessary visits to farms are discouraged.

” We’ve identified areas where control points should be erected, that was put in place. There’s about nine already up and more others would come. And at that area the staff on those points control any movement of animals either in or outside to the area with the right documentation. So, normally when animals come in, they are allowed to go to an abattoir, so we call it a dead end, but other movement of animals is strictly controlled in terms of a permit system,” says Garden Route Disaster Management Head Gerhard Otto.

 

Farmers are urged to remain vigilant. Early signs of Foot and Mouth Disease include excessive salivation, lameness and a drop in milk production. Blisters and sores inside the mouth are common indicators. Not only livestock, but cloven-hoofed wildlife can also be affected.

A farm owner in Mossel Bay Lizelle Crous, says they are taking every precaution with their animals.

“ We all are very concerned about the FMD and what’s happening with the game farmers. All your buffalo, the cloven-hoofed animals can get it. So you have to get all your bio-security in place, disinfect all the vehicles coming in. The concern is all the auctions are getting cancelled, you won’t get permits to import or export for the game auctions, so it makes it very difficult for us.”

Authorities say swift cooperation and strict biosecurity will be critical in preventing further spread.

 

Related News