JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Fifteen locations were tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Limpopo, the northernmost province of South Africa, since an outbreak was confirmed in November, said the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development on Tuesday.
"Four further cases of FMD were reported since mid-December 2019, with three cases reported in December and one case reported in the first week of January 2020," said the department's media liaison officer Reggie Ngcobo.
Ngcobo said the FMD-confirmed places have been quarantined and animals are not allowed to move into or out of the areas, and the department has arranged for the infected animals to be slaughtered and suspended some cattle auctions.
"The department, together with the provincial veterinary services, started conducting awareness on FMD clinical signs and biosecurity measures in Limpopo province during the week of Dec. 4," he said. "Awareness was already conducted in six villages in the Molemole area (of the province) and 315 farmers attended these sessions."
South Africa confirmed FMD outbreak in January 2019, which prompted countries like China, Zimbabwe and Botswana to suspend beef trade with it.
