Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen working closely with regional counterparts to develop a comprehensive strategy.
South Africa is taking a unified approach to combat the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, with Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen working closely with regional counterparts to develop a comprehensive strategy. The goal is to vaccinate 80% of the national herd by December 2026, aiming to reduce outbreaks by 70% and regain FMD-free status from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
The vaccination campaign is underway, with nearly 2 million animals already vaccinated. The department has received vaccine doses from various sources, including Biogénesis Bagó and Dollvet, with plans to vaccinate high-risk provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State, and North West.
Digital livestock tracking systems have been implemented to record animal movement and vaccination
Stricter enforcement of animal movement rules and sanitation protocols.
Partnerships with private veterinarians and industry stakeholders to accelerate vaccination efforts
1 million vaccine doses have arrived, with 5 million more secured for March 2026.Local production is underway, with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) producing 20,000 doses per week, scaling up to 200,000 per week by 2027. Cross-border transmission and damaged fencing at Kruger National Park pose ongoing risks.
The Western Cape has allocated R100 million to combat the outbreak, implementing a 21-point plan that includes movement control, monitoring, and vaccination. The collaborative effort aims to control and eventually eradicate the disease, protecting South Africa’s agricultural sector and regional trade.
