Drakenstein placed under veterinary quarantine after confirmed FMD case

By Levy Masiteng 

The Drakenstein Municipality in the Western Cape was placed under immediate veterinary quarantine over the weekend after a confirmed case of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the area.

The municipality said the quarantine was imposed after the disease was detected in Vlakkeland, outside Paarl, prompting swift intervention by the State Veterinarian in terms of the Animal Diseases Act.

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“As a result, the municipality remains under strict veterinary control to prevent further spread of the highly contagious livestock disease,” the municipality said in a statement.

It said that all cloven-hoofed animals — cattle, sheep, goats and pigs — are regarded as suspected of infection until cleared by veterinary authorities.

“The movement of cloven-hoofed animals, animal products, feed, equipment or carcasses is strictly prohibited unless authorised through a special permit issued by the State Veterinarian,” the municipality said. “These