May 7, 2024

South Africa urged to maintain vigilance against animal diseases amid global outbreaks

South Africa's agricultural sector is being cautioned to remain vigilant against animal diseases despite the nation's current safe status, following the recent bird flu outbreak in the US that has affected dairy cattle and transmitted to humans, Food For Mzansi reported.

Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, stressed the importance of biosecurity measures to prevent disease spread as South Africa increases its red meat and livestock exports. He highlighted past disease outbreaks in the country, such as foot and mouth disease and African swine fever (ASF), underscoring vulnerabilities in the biosecurity system that not only inflicted financial losses on farmers but also led to temporary export halts, indicating significant economic ramifications.

Recent beef and wool export recoveries, up 3% and 18% year-on-year respectively, demonstrate the efficacy of collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector to bolster biosecurity.

Sihlobo underscored the necessity for ongoing investment in animal health, given the rise in global complex animal diseases. Strengthening surveillance systems and regulators' rapid response capabilities are imperative to maintain South Africa's reliability as a supplier of red meat, wool, and other livestock products globally.

While South Africa is presently free from the specific bird flu strain affecting the US, Sihlobo emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant and closely communicating with the government to monitor potential risks.

-      Food For Mzansi