South African health authorities have detected the highly contagious foot and mouth disease in the northern Limpopo Province.
The authorities on Tuesday said positive laboratory results for the viral disease, which causes lesions and lameness in cattle and sheep, were taken in the Vhembe District of Limpopo, which borders Zimbabwe.
“FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral disease which affects livestock with significant economic impact,” a statement fro the department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries read in part.
Foot and mouth disease does not affect people, but it poses a threat to cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep and goats.
The agricultural department said the World Organisation for Animal Health has temporarily suspended South Africa’s FMD free status but exports were continuing as the affected cattle were not from commercial farmers.
“We have quickly quarantined the area so it does not affect the commercial livestock farming which will pose a danger to us as consumers and the export business,” said Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries spokesman Khaye Nkwanyana.
The affected area is under quarantine and investigations to verify the results and determine the extent of the outbreak are being conducted, the department said.
