Last week, South Africa's Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen unveiled a new 10-year strategy for the containment of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the country.
To be successful, he called for the full cooperation of all the country’s citizens, particularly farmers, industry leaders and veterinarians.
“By protecting our national herd, we are protecting our future,” the minister said. “I ask for your patience, your partnership, and your unwavering support as we implement this scientifically backed plan to restore South Africa to its rightful place as a leader in global livestock trade. Together, we can ensure a resilient and FMD-free South Africa.”
FMD situation in South Africa
The country lost its FMD-free status in 2019, according to the agriculture ministry.
However, the situation started to deteriorate in 2021, when the infection was spread in animals moved from Limpopo province in the northeast of the country southward to KwaZulu-Natal.
Since that time, FMD cases have been confirmed in eight of South Africa’s nine provinces. Only Northern Cape has recorded no cases to date.
According to the ministry, the number of animals vaccinated against FMD during this period is approaching 2 million.
Effective control of FMD is complicated by the existence of seven recognized viral serotypes, three of which have been detected in South Africa in recent times — SAT1, SAT2 and SAT3.
To date, the ministry reports that SAT1 has been detected only in KwaZulu-Natal, and SAT3 in Eastern Cape and Limpopo. Most widely distributed of the serotypes in the country has been SAT2, which has been found in Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West and, most recently, at one location in Western Cape.
New FMD strategy unveiled
First phase of the 10-year control strategy in South Africa will be stabilization and consolidation of the disease situation, according to the minister.
This will require a vaccination strategy, but vaccination alone will not be effective in eradicating FMD.
“I need to emphasize that vaccination is not a silver bullet to eradicate or manage this disease,” said Steenhuisen. “It is merely one of the tools that can and should be used to combat FMD.”
At the end of 2025, he announced an initiative to vaccinate the national herd.
Identifying the areas where the FMD situation is most severe has been among the first actions of the Ministerial Advisory Task Team on Animal Disease Prevention and Control. Led by Dr. Emily Mogajane, this group of the country’s experts in veterinary science, biosecurity and animal husbandry was formed to transform the vision “FMD Free through Vaccination” into an effective strategy.
As a result of this work, zones of highest risk have been identified. Here, the target is to vaccinate 80% of target cattle overall, and up to 100% of dairy cows and beef animals in feedlots. Objectives are to reduce outbreaks in these areas within one year, and keep the virus out of FMD-free provinces. Additionally, this will entail buffer vaccinations and strict controls of animal movements.
Provinces hit hardest by FMD are Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and North West. Here, the strategy will be to commence mass vaccination immediately, and to repeat it within three months to cover all feedlots and dairy cows, 90% of commercial animals, and 80% of those in community herds.
Where outbreaks tend to recur sporadically and buffalo farming is practiced, vaccination will be carried out in the protection zone, and campaigns will be launched at border hot spots every six months.
Meanwhile, target coverage will be 85% of communal herds and 90% of commercial animals in areas adjacent to wildlife reserves. On the reserves, wildlife surveillance and targeted vaccination will be carried out.
In Eastern Cape, FMD vaccination will take place twice a year, and a protection zone will be set up.
To support these initiatives, the minister announced that surveillance will be increased at markets and slaughterhouses.
Vaccine supplies secured, related measures
For the strategy to be successful, adequate supplies are being secured of quality and potent vaccines, particularly trivalent vaccines that offer protection from the SAT1, SAT2 and SAT3 FMD virus serotypes circulating in South Africa.
Among the potential supplies of appropriate products is Biogénesis Bagó of Argentina, for whose vaccines import permits are being arranged. The company has undertaken to provide a total of six million doses by March.
While South Africa seeks to obtain more SAT2 vaccine from an existing partner, Botswana Vaccine Institute, first shipments of product have been authorized from Dollvet in Turkey.
Furthermore, domestic production of FMD vaccine is being scaled up.
In order to ensure a good match between vaccine and circulating FMD viruses, field samples are being sent to the Pirbright Institute in the U.K.
Steenhuisen said South Africa’s state lab capacity is being scaled up to manage the analysis of a greatly increased flow of samples arising from enhanced surveillance and movement controls. The task force is also supporting the implementation of a digital livestock and traceability system to track animal movements.
FMD is a severe and highly contagious disease affecting cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
Economic impacts of the disease are significant, as the virus reduces the productivity of infected livestock, and disrupts trade in susceptible animals and their products.
The virus is not readily transmitted to humans, and FMD is not seen as a public health risk.
