Encouraging developments
The final week of February delivered several encouraging developments in the ongoing fight against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in pigs. Not only did the first batch of vaccines finally arrive in the country, but there were also notable breakthroughs, specifically for the pig industry. One of the first commercial piggeries affected by the outbreak received permission from provincial state veterinary authorities to resume marketing its products as normal, including the sale of heads and bone in cuts. After a stressful four months for this specific producer, this provides some much-needed relief for operations to normalise and cashflow pressures to ease. In addition, the first abattoir in KwaZulu-Natal approved specifically for handling FMD affected animals was officially designated during this period, with two more at an advanced stage of the application process. These milestones represent meaningful progress toward stabilising operations and rebuilding confidence across the affected businesses.
Challenges that remain
Despite the encouraging progress, significant challenges remain. The North West province, which has faced multiple FMD outbreaks in commercial piggeries, still does not have a designated abattoir within or close to the region. In addition, more research is urgently needed on the duration of viral circulation in pigs to inform evidence-based policy adjustments, particularly those aimed at shortening contingency timelines to better reflect the unique dynamics of FMD infection in this species. Here, preliminary research from other parts of the world does suggest that pigs are not long-term carriers of FMD. This however, needs to be validated in a South African context, given our specific strains.
Research underway
To address these gaps, SAPPO is in the process of commissioning a focused research project that will examine the presence of FMD virus in the head, bones, and skin-associated glands. Establishing how long the virus persists in these specific components of the carcass will be critical for motivating shorter controlled slaughter timelines for pigs. Minimising these waiting periods, as far as scientifically justified, is essential to reducing the financial impact of an outbreak on affected producers and helping the industry recover more rapidly.
Biosecurity remains key
In the meantime, while external efforts to mitigate the impact of the virus continue, stringent on-farm biosecurity, supported by a strong culture of compliance, remains the most effective defence against FMD infections. Although aerosol spread has been suggested, human-mediated movement of the virus is still considered the most likely pathway of introduction onto pig farms. For a refresher on the key components of both preventative and reactive outbreak management, please refer to the weekly disease communications, where we unpack the most critical best practices in detail.
SAPPO’s commitment to producers
SAPPO remains committed to supporting our members during this challenging period. To ensure we can assist as effectively as possible, we encourage producers to engage with us and share their questions, concerns, and insights on contingency planning and disease-related matters. By working together, we can learn from one another and navigate these uncharted waters in a collaborative and constructive manner. We continue to celebrate the small victories, but we are equally mindful that significant work still lies ahead. We are dedicated to facing those challenges alongside you.
