Suspected FMD outbreak in S Africa
South Africa has banned exports of beef and other livestock due to a suspected outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the eastern part of the country, Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said on 28 February 2011.
“We have suspended all exports of cloven hoofed animals (such as) cattle, goats, sheep and their products with immediate effect, except for products that have been fully processed to inactivate the FMD virus,” she told a news conference.
About half of the 600 animals tested in northern KwaZulu-Natal province were found to be positive, but the minister did not expect any culling at this stage.
Authorities were monitoring the possible spread of the highly contagious viral disease.
The ban is expected to last for at least three months.
Government officials suspect wild buffalo, natural carriers of FMD, to have caused the latest outbreak.
