Dr Mtshali, the Head of Veterinary Services in the Province, gave a background and an overview of FMD in the Province including the current status and the impending visit by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in December 2014. He indicated that the Province was currently implementing the red line fence and further explained other control measures that were implemented by the Province to control livestock movements between the FMD-infected zone, the high surveillance zone and the FMD-free zones. These measures included use of different coloured ear tags and blood testing as FMD in the area is not cosmetic (i.e. no external symptoms on infected animals). Dr Mtshali also highlighted the high costs of dipping for livestock in the high surveillance zone in particular, as animals need to be tested every two weeks.