More than 400 cows in northern KwaZulu-Natal have tested positive for a bacterial disease – transmittable to humans – that causes infertility, miscarriages or birth complications, and weak joints.
In a statement on Monday, the KZN Department of Agriculture said this was the biggest outbreak in the last three years.
There have been 635 positive cases since 2018, of which 423 were recorded this year.
“This year’s high number of the infectious spread of brucellosis threatens to trigger great reproductive health, nutrition and economic failures for the majority of rural animal holders and consumers of raw meat or fresh milk from infected dairy cows, goats and sheep, province-wide,” said Agriculture MEC Bongi Sithole-Moloi.
The disease is commonly spread to humans through the consumption of raw or unpasteurized dairy products.
Around 70% of the cases were as a result of communal dip tanks.
“The increase in the north is attributed to few private veterinarians, lack of resources to contain the disease, lack of compliance from livestock owners as well as proximity to countries like Mozambique and Swaziland, which have porous border security,” said Sithole-Moloi.
To help curb the spread, the department will be instituting a vaccination drive on calves aged between four and eight months in uMkhanyakude, King Cetshwayo, uThukela and uMzinyathi districts.
-The Citizen
In other news – Kelly Khumalo to lose her luxurious car after failing to pay debt
Kelly Khumalo‘s car will allegedly get repossessed by Nedbank after failing to keep up with monthly instalments. According to Sunday World, the Esiphambwaneni hitmaker has reportedly defaulted her payments and is currently faced with R62 000 arrear fees.
The luxury car in question is a 2011 Porsche Cayenne Tiptronic vehicle that she purchased in March 2017 through a loan of R500 000 from Nedbank. Learn More
