South Africa starts extensive vaccine campagin against FMD in cattle

South Africa has initiated a 10-year vaccination program aimed at nearly 20 million cattle to combat a widespread foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak impacting livestock and export markets.

FMD is a highly contagious viral infection affecting ruminant livestock, including cattle, sheep, and goats. It leads to symptoms such as fever and blisters near the mouth and hooves, which can sometimes result in death.

The outbreak, which began in 2021, has spread to eight out of nine provinces, according to Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen. The disease has imposed significant financial and emotional challenges on farmers.

Since losing its FMD-free status in 2019, South African farmers have faced considerable difficulties. Assistance requests have been made by both commercial and communal farmers affected by the outbreaks.

The plan is divided into four phases, with vaccines sourced from Argentina, Turkey, and Botswana. Local vaccine production is being increased, with an initial output of 20,000 doses per week aiming to scale up to 960,000 doses. The goal is to reduce outbreak incidence by more than 70% in high-risk provinces within 12 months.

Nearly two million cattle have already been vaccinated. The government is considering declaring the outbreak a national disaster to enable more robust intervention measures.

The exact number of cattle deaths remains unknown due to unreported cases and herd culling by farmers. The Southern Africa Agricultural Initiative has expressed concern that the current plan does not adequately address the challenges faced by producers.

In 2024, South Africa exported approximately 38,600 tonnes of beef, primarily to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, as reported by the National Agricultural Marketing Council. However, China has suspended beef imports from South Africa due to FMD concerns.

Based on reporting by Africanews.