May 13, 2003, 10:00
North West authorities will meet today to discuss an anti-anthrax campaign following two confirmed cases of the disease in the province. Pancho Mokaila, the head of provincial veterinary services in North West, said the outbreaks, among livestock in the eastern and western parts of the province, seemed to have been contained, with no new cases reported.
Mokaila said the surviving animals exposed in the area where the two confirmed cases were identified were being vaccinated by state veterinarians. The vaccination programme was also being expanded to surrounding areas. Five cattle and nine sheep, all belonging to communal farmers, were reported to have died of anthrax since the first outbreak was confirmed on April 30 at a farm in the Mankwe district.
The whole communal cattle herd of around 500 cattle exposed was vaccinated. A week later, on May 6, a second, unrelated outbreak was confirmed in a flock of about 140 sheep at Mothibistad. Several people in the Mothibistad region received preventative hospital treatment after being in contact with exposed animals. All have since been released from hospital.
Anthrax is a notifiable and controlled livestock disease. It usually occurs in cattle and small stock, but can also be transmitted to horses and donkeys and humans. Anthrax is endemic to South Africa, but fewer cases are reported each year. It is found especially in the Kalahari regions of North West. Animals usually die before showing symptoms. The law compels livestock owners to vaccinate annually against anthrax.
Conditions over the past few months, with a dry summer and late seasonal rains, were conducive in the two regions for the development of anthrax spores in the soil into bacteria. - Sapa
|
|
