With Foot-and-Mouth Disease continuing to spread in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, including the Midlands, the Umvoti Local Municipality has urged residents to take strict precautions to prevent further outbreaks. Umvoti deputy mayor Mbongiseni Dlamini said the municipality was working closely with local farmers and residents in various areas to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease, which poses a serious threat to livestock and livelihoods. Dlamini said farmers and residents with cattle in the area had contributed funds to purchase disinfectant sprays that will be used at key access points to affected and high-risk areas.
As part of the intervention, all vehicles entering and leaving these areas will be sprayed, and residents have been urged to cooperate fully. “This disease is serious and affects us all. We are calling on everyone to comply and unite in fighting the spread.
All vehicles coming in and out of various areas will be sprayed,” said Dlamini. He added that, through community contributions, footbaths will be installed at schools and other strategic points to reduce the risk of transmission. “Let us all work together to protect our livestock and our economy,” Dlamini said.
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Local farmers have also appealed to residents to stop moving cattle from one area to another, warning that unnecessary movement significantly increases the risk of spreading the disease. Where movement is unavoidable, farmers have urged residents to first consult a local veterinarian before relocating livestock. Residents who rely on cattle for their livelihoods say they are living in constant fear that their herds could be wiped out and have welcomed the preventative measures being implemented.
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