Foot and mouth outbreak near Punda Maria

The state veterinary authorities have discovered at least 41 cases of foot and mouth Foot and mouth outbreak near Punda Maria disease and many more infected cattle are thought to be present in the area immediately adjacent to the Punda Maria entrance gate to the Kruger National Park (KNP). An area of about 10 by 10 km has now been cordoned off with roadblocks in an attempt to stop the disease spreading further.

Animals infected with the virus were found on July 31, 2006 in the Matiani village neighbouring Punda Maria during a routine weekly inspection by the state vets. Laboratory tests have since confirmed the exact strain of the virus infecting the cattle. This is the first outbreak of the disease in the Limpopo Province since a major outbreak was detected near Letaba Ranch in 2004. Cattle usually develop the disease after coming into contact with buffalo, who are maintenance hosts of the virus. Kruger’s  boundary fence near Punda Maria is currently being upgraded, and has previously been under serious pressure from elephants and humans, resulting in increased human-wildlife interaction in the area.

According to Dr Edwin Dyason, deputy director of animal health in Limpopo, the outbreak occurred in an area where cattle are already vaccinated twice a year against the disease. He says that as the animals are in a controlled zone the economic implications are not as great as they would be if the disease spread into a foot and mouth free zone, as this has implications for the export market.

In order to stop the disease spreading, veterinary roadblocks will control the movement of animal and grass products into and out of the Punda Maria area. These roadblocks will remain in place until three months after the last cases of foot and mouth are detected. In conjunction with the roadblocks, some 30,000 cattle in the area will be vaccinated against the virus.