Over 40,000 livestock vaccinated as Western Cape battles foot-and-mouth disease

Efforts to curb foot-and-mouth disease in the Western Cape have resulted in more than 40,000 livestock being vaccinated since the outbreak started in February.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde this week received an update on the province's coordinated efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

Affected areas in the province include Mossel Bay, George, and Gouda, with suspected cases in Mfuleni, Makhaza, Kalkfontein, Velddrif, and Bredasdorp.

Premier Winde stated that additional vaccine doses are being sent to the province, and close to 30 private veterinarians are now assisting with vaccination efforts.

"To date, we've already delivered 41,019 vaccines in doses. They've been administered across dairies and to small-scale farmers at 239 vaccination sites across the province," Winde said.

The Premier added that awareness signboards are being prepared to inform farmers and the public about the disease.

"We are making sure that we are managing this from a roadblock point of view, with signage at entry points to the province. We really do treat this issue seriously," he noted.

Winde confirmed that the province aims to reach herd immunity by December of this year.