South Africa starts mass vaccination program to halt foot-and-mouth outbreak
## Mass Vaccination of Cattle in South Africa to Combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Mass Vaccination of Cattle in South Africa to Combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease
On Fri, an extensive vaccination program for cattle commenced in South Africa to address the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. This outbreak poses a significant threat to the continuity of meat, dairy, and livestock supplies, as well as exports.
Since intensifying late last year, the outbreak has rapidly disseminated across the nation’s livestock industry. Over 297,000 cattle have been impacted, and more than 120,000 animals have been culled in efforts to contain the disease’s spread.
The outbreak's repercussions include potential shortages of meat, job losses, and substantial revenue losses due to export bans from countries such as China and Zambia.
Government Response and Vaccination Strategy
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced the initiation of the vaccination campaign. Recently, one million vaccines were received from Turkey, with additional shipments expected soon. However, the current vaccine supply is insufficient to meet the requirement for vaccinating nearly 12 million cattle.
Steenhuisen emphasized the adoption of a mass vaccination strategy to proactively manage and prevent future outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease within the country.
On Fri, an extensive vaccination program for cattle commenced in South Africa to address the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
KwaZulu-Natal has been recognized as the primary hotspot, affecting over 17,000 farms. The region has been declared a national disaster, allowing the government to allocate emergency funds for vaccine procurement. Approximately $25 million has been designated by the national treasury to combat the outbreak, predominantly for vaccine acquisition.
The outbreak has severely impacted farmers and meat producers, necessitating the quarantine of affected animals and the cessation of trade and exports amid a vaccine shortage.
According to Dr. Dirk Verwoerd, a veterinarian at Karan Beef, the outbreak has disrupted all sectors of the meat and dairy industry. The inability to purchase or sell cattle has affected both primary producers and consumers, leading to increased prices.
Karan Beef operates the largest feedlot in South Africa, covering 2,300 hectares, with a capacity for over 140,000 cattle.
Dr. Verwoerd described the outbreak as a rampant epidemic affecting all provinces. The immediate goal is to achieve stability through the vaccination of the national herd.
Based on reporting by Africanews.
