Gauteng COGTA says foot and mouth disease outbreak doesn't warrant provincial state of disaster

JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) said that the current foot and mouth disease outbreak does not warrant a provincial state of disaster.

The outbreak, which began in May, has affected several provinces, including Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the North West.

To prevent further spread of the disease, government has ordered 900,000 vaccines from the Botswana Vaccine Institute.

Gauteng COGTA spokesperson, Theo Nkonki, said that before a state of disaster can be declared, the department must conduct an assessment of the outbreak’s extent and impact on public health.

"Once that is done, we prepare a formal declaration document that outlines the reasons for a state of disaster, including evidence of the outbreak and its effects on the community and the economy."