Gauteng government to unveil intervention plan for foot-and-mouth outbreak

The Gauteng government is expected to unveil the province’s intervention plan to tackle the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.

The measures come as livestock continue to be affected across several parts of the province.

Gauteng MEC for Agriculture Vuyiswa Ramokgopa will lead the announcement together with Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

Ramokgopa is expected to outline control measures to contain the spread of the highly contagious disease among livestock.

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Foot-and-mouth disease affects cloven-hoofed animals, such as cattle and sheep, and is primarily spread through the movement of infected animals.

South Africa has struggled to contain the nationwide outbreak.

Several municipalities in Gauteng have recorded cases, prompting the implementation of movement restrictions, enhanced biosecurity measures, and targeted vaccination campaigns.

However, with limited availability and additional doses only to be procured in the coming weeks, efforts to bring the outbreak under control have proven challenging.

As a result, red meat prices remained elevated despite the slowdown in headline inflation.