Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious disease that affects various species of livestock. It can cause great losses for farmers, but cannot be transmitted to humans. The danger lies in the losses that countries incur due to the ban on their export products.

The disease is caused by a virus of which there are seven ‘types’, each producing the same symptoms, and distinguishable only in the laboratory. The disease spreads very quickly if not controlled, and because of this it is a reportable disease.

Symptoms

• Fever

• Blisters in the mouth and on feet

• Drop in milk production

• Weight loss

• Loss of appetite

• Quivering lips and frothing of mouth

• Cows may develop blisters on teats

• Lameness

Treatment

Treatment is not given. Affected animals will recover. However, because of the loss of production and the infectious state of the disease, infected animals are usually culled.

Animals pick up the virus either by direct contact with an infected animal or by contact with foodstuffs or other items that have been contaminated by such an animal, or by eating or coming into contact with some part of an infected carcase.

South Africa enjoyed foot-and-mouth disease free status until earlier this year, when the disease broke out in January. According to Gerhard Schutte, Chairman of the Red Meat Producer’s Organisation (RPO) in South Africa, the ongoing pandemic is costing the state millions in export losses. Not only meat is affected; all related industries such as wool, mohair and game are suffering.

Zimbabwe imposed a temporary ban on all meat and livestock products until the issue is resolved. South Africa will not be able to regain their foot-and-mouth disease free status until late in 2020 according to Gerhard. He went on to say that “SA has lost R10 billion since January 2019 in export revenue due to this disease.”

Various South African agricultural institutions have blamed the latest outbreak of the disease on the South African government, saying that they had sufficient warning signs and time to react since January this year. They argue that the RSA government should be held responsible.

Earlier this year, Botswana, Zim­babwe and eSwatini (formerly Swazi­land) stopped all imports of meat and livestock from South Africa. This was after the South African Ministry of Agriculture informed their counterpart in Zimbabwe that the latest outbreak occurred near the town of Dendron in the Limpopo province of South Africa, a mere 200 kilometres from the Beit Bridge border post.

The temporary ban was instituted on cattle, pigs, goats, sheep and related products. The Zimbabwean Ministry of Agriculture said that the temporary suspension of imports was imposed on South Africa to prevent the disease from spreading to Zimbabwe. In April this year, the UN magazine, Africa Re­newal, reported that Zimbabwe’s cattle industry is regaining momentum. They cannot afford any setbacks, espe­cially an outbreak of a communicable disease.

South Africa is the dominant source of meat and genetic material to Zim­babwe’s national cattle herd. In order to contain it, the South African state is responsible for providing vaccines and ensuring that the national herds are part of well-maintained vaccination programmes.