OIE Reports FMD Outbreak in South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA - The South African veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Limpopo.
22 July 2013
1 minute read
The outbreak was initially observed on 17 July and pre-confirmed on the same date. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received an immediate notification on 19 July, after a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was carried out at the Transboundary Animal Diseases Programme, ARC-OVI on 18 July.
The causal agent has been idenitified as the FMD virus, serotype SAT 1.
According to the report, the affected population comprises cattle at a communal diptank.
A total of 1385 animals were found susceptible, out of which two cases were reported. No deaths were recorded, and no animals were destroyed.
Contact with wild animal species has been identified as the main source of the outbreak.
According to the OIE, the outbreak occurred within South Africa's FMD protection zone in the portion where vaccination for FMD is done by State Veterinary Services.
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