How is snotsiekte spread?

Dear Prof McCrindle, My neighbour's threatening me with legal action because his cattle have snotsiekte. I own a registered game farm where I have kept wildebeest for several decades.

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One of my neighbouring farmers also said that wildebeest were indigenous on her farm in this area when she purchased it in about 1980. This backs up my impression that when I purchased my farm, there were already both blue and black wildebeest on the property.

The complainant does not maintain either his grazing or border fence, so his sheep and cattle go through his fence and graze my firebreak along the fence as his grazing is now depleted. Could this cause snotsiekte in his cattle? Kind regards, Frank

Dear Frank,

Malignant catarrhal fever (snotsiekte) in cattle is a notifiable disease managed by state veterinary services, and wildebeest are the primary source of the virus.