Pretoria, 9 June 2025 – Following the activation of its Operational Centre (OC), Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) has implemented Phase 1 of its coordinated response to the ongoing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Located at RMIS headquarters in Pretoria, the OC is being developed in a phased approach to ensure rapid implementation, relevance, and operational efficiency.
To ensure immediate functionality, Phase 1 focuses on establishing the core operational capabilities of the OC. This phase lays the groundwork for effective coordination and control, with the following key components:
Surveillance:
Utilisation of the current national network of 177 Ruminant Private Veterinarians conducting daily surveillance of FMD.
Reporting:
These private veterinarians are already actively reporting disease data to RMIS on a monthly basis through the Veterinarian Network application. This existing reporting system along with a designated WhatsApp channel will now also serve to ensure rapid, real-time communication of suspected FMD cases directly to the OC.
Mapping:
Suspected FMD cases reported by the private veterinarians are mapped in real time on the RMIS Platform, which was specifically developed for this purpose. Each case’s status is continuously updated and displayed on the platform, providing a national bird’s-eye view of the outbreak. This visual overview supports effective disease management and decision-making within the OC.
Geo-fencing:
Support for farmers, auction houses, feedlots, and abattoirs to register and be geo-mapped on the platform. This facilitates targeted biosecurity responses and containment.
Coordination:
The FMD contingency plan outlines a clear step-by-step process to be followed once a suspected case is identified by a veterinarian. The OC will support the coordination of this process, facilitating communication and action between the farmer, private veterinarian, state veterinarian, laboratory, and the Department of Animal Health, to ensure accurate execution within the recommended timeframe.
Communication:
Updates on case status and outbreak mapping will be communicated directly to veterinarians through the RMIS Platform via WhatsApp, ensuring fast, accurate, and streamlined information delivery.
Human Resources:
A dedicated team has been appointed to manage and operate the OC, ensuring capacity for real-time coordination and support with a dedicated phone line.
In Phase 2, RMIS plans to introduce a public reporting channel for suspected animal movements in collaboration with various organised agricultural organisations. This will be followed by Phase 3, which will see the integration of an electronic risk assessment and movement permit system into the RMIS platform also through collaboration with various organised agricultural organisations.
