SOUTH AFRICA: BECHUANALAND: START OF FIGHT AGAINST FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE; THOUSAND OF CATTLE VACCINATED

Record ID: 375914

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: BECHUANALAND: START OF FIGHT AGAINST FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE; THOUSAND OF CATTLE VACCINATED
  • Date: 4th September 1965
  • Summary: VACCINE BEING PREPARED AT RAKOPS; CATTLE BEING VACCINATED IN FARM AREAS NEAR RAKOPS. Initials PC/V/CR/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 19th September 1965 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: RAKOPS, BECHUANALAND, SOUTHERN AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Reuters ID: LVA5KW1OUZWGTZKBP3RNW7L9BX22
  • Story Text: ALL BEEF EXPORTS FROM BECHUANALAND WERE SUSPENDED THIS WEEK FOLLOWING THE DISCOVERY OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN THE MAKARIKARI AREA. FIVE HUNDRED CATTLE WERE FOUND TO BE INFECTED SHORTLY BEFORE THEY WERE DUE TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST THE DISEASE. THE FULL EXTENT OF THE OUTBREAK IS NOT YET KNOWN.

    A CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT AN OUTBREAK OF THE DISEASE STARTED IN THE BRITISH PROTECTORATE RECENTLY. THIS FOLLOWED THE COUNTRY'S WORST DROUGHT FOR FIFTY YEARS AND THE DEATH OF HUNDREDS OF CATTLE.

    AT RAKOPS - THEIR FIRST BASE - 14 VETERINARY TEAMS VACCINATED NO LESS THAN 80,000 CATTLE. THE TERMS WERE TO OPERATE FROM THREE BASES ON THIS "SWEEP". THE DEEP FROZEN VACCINE WAS FLOWN IN FROM GABERONES, THE CAPITAL, AND THE OPERATION WAS UNDER THE CONTROL OF BECHUANALAND'S CHIEF VETERINARY, MR. JACK FALCONER.

    THE PEOPLE OF BECHUANALAND ARE FACING A GRIM WINTER. THEY NEED TO BUY THE FOOD WHICH THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GROW BECAUSE OF THE DROUGHT. THE CATTLE ARE THEIR ONLY MEANS OF OBTAINING CASH AND IT IS IMPORTANT THE DISEASE DOES NOT SPREAD.

    IN NORMAL YEARS, THE DIET OF THE BECHUANALAND POPULATION AS A WHOLE IS CONSIDERED JUST ADEQUATE BY INTERNATIONAL NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS, EXCEPT FOR A DEFICIENCY OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. BUT EVEN IN A NORMAL YEAR, CHILDREN TEND TO SUFFER FROM PROTEIN AND VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES BECAUSE, AS IN OTHER POOR SOCIETIES, ADULT MALES GET MOST OF THE "MAN'S FOOD" - MEAT - WHICH IS AVAILABLE.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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