Farmers and veterinarians in the George area of the Western Cape are stepping up efforts to keep Foot and Mouth Disease out of the province.

The virus, which affects cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, sheep and goats, spreads easily through the movement of infected livestock.

After recent outbreaks in the Eastern Cape, role players say cooperation between the state and the private sector is vital to protect livestock and the economy.

[WATCH] Government is prioritising a track and tracing system that might help to adequately and rapidly respond to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the country. National Department of Agriculture, Deputy Director-General for Agricultural Production, Biosecurity, and… pic.twitter.com/d0ec56t0wm

— SABC News (@SABCNews) July 21, 2025

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“About a year ago when they had the outbreak, in Humansdorp we realized that we are the closest to the border between the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape, and it doesn’t take a lot to bring that virus in from the Eastern Cape towards the Western Cape,” says Veterinarian at the George Animal Hospital, Dr. Muller Strydom.

WATCH | Chief Economist with the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, Wandile Sihlobo says government must ramp up efforts to vaccinate livestock to curb the spread of foot and mouth disease. He has also urged farmers to restrict livestock movement. pic.twitter.com/1hJYanBlhs

— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 1, 2025

WATCH | Acting Director General for the Department of Agriculture, Dipepeneneng Serage, says all livestock without a clearance certificate will not be sold at auction from now on. This, as the department tries to curb the spread of foot and mouth disease. pic.twitter.com/XU2RwDcid7

— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 1, 2025

He says they are in an area with a lot of dairy cattle that gets severely affected.

“We need to do something and we can’t put the responsibility only on the state. We need to work together,” he adds.

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