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http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=14&art_id=vn20080327125150393C450754
Huge anthrax outbreak hits farms March 27 2008 at 03:14PM By Nadine Visagie Anthrax has claimed thousands of head of game worth millions of rands in the Northern Cape following an outbreak of the disease near Campbell, 100 kilometres from Kimberley. Northern Cape farmers have been urged to vaccinate their game immediately after a recent outbreak of multi-species anthrax in the area. According to the spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture and Land Reform, Thabo Mothibi, one farmer has lost up to 400 head of game and many other farmers have been affected. Mothibi said although they were not able to ascertain the exact number of animals that had died from the disease, the figure was "exponential". He said this was the biggest case of anthrax the province had experienced. Experts from the Kruger National Park have been asked to investigate the outbreak. The investigation will determine why such a multi-species outbreak occurred and how to improve the disposal of infected material. "The province normally sees outbreaks among kudu but the current outbreak involves all antelopes and equids," Mothibi stated. He urged farmers to vaccinate their high-value species and not to open carcasses of animals suspected of having died from the disease. "The Veterinary Services Unit of the Northern Cape's department of agriculture and land reform has embarked on an all-out effort to foil the anthrax outbreak, mainly around Campbell," he said. Mothibi said the Veterinary Unit had been conducting information sharing meetings involving stakeholders and that one would be held tomorrow with game farmers at Ulco near Barkley West. "If anthrax is suspected, please notify the State Veterinary Office immediately at 053-832-4241 or 083-452-9850," he said. One game farmer who has suffered huge financial losses as a result of the disease is Hendrik van Eck, near Campbell. He has conservatively estimated his losses at between R500 000 and R1-million. Van Eck said he believed the good rainfall had contributed to the outbreak of the disease. This article was originally published on page 5 of Cape Argus on March 27, 2008 |
