South Africa sets 10-year plan to contain foot-and-mouth disease
The Agriculture Department says a phased strategy aims to steady outbreaks, support farmers, and rebuild confidence in livestock trade after years of losses.
SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa’s Department of Agriculture has set out a 10-year strategy to contain foot-and-mouth disease, known as FMD, and improve the country’s position in global livestock trade.
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen presented the plan during a media briefing on 14 January 2026, noting that farmers have carried heavy costs since South Africa lost its FMD-free status in 2019.
He acknowledged the strain on producers across the country, saying, “I have received many pleas for help from commercial to communal farmers, who have borne the heavy burden of the recent FMD outbreaks in the country. We see your struggles.”
He added, “We understand the financial and emotional toll that the outbreaks have had on your families and your livelihoods. We remain deeply sympathetic to the hardships you have endured; however, I want to assure you today that we have a plan that is both realistically achievable and technically sound.”
Phased approach to disease control
The strategy will roll out in stages over a decade. It starts with stabilisation and consolidation, then moves toward reduced vaccination, before seeking national recognition of freedom through vaccination from the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Steenhuisen stressed that vaccines alone will not solve the problem. “I need to emphasise that vaccination is not a silver bullet to eradicate or manage this disease. It is merely one of the tools that can and should be used to combat FMD,” he said.
The first phase focuses on targeted vaccination in areas with the highest number of cases. Authorities will rely on scientific heatmaps and fast reporting from farmers to guide action.
Advisory task team and vaccine supply
The department has formed a Ministerial Advisory Task Team on Animal Disease Prevention and Control, chaired by Dr Emily Mogajane. The team brings together experts from veterinary science, biosecurity, and livestock management from both the public and private sectors.
According to the minister, “This task team brings together the nation’s foremost authorities in veterinary science, biosecurity policy, and livestock management to ensure a resilient and secure agricultural economy.”
High-potency vaccines, including trivalent SAT 1, 2, and 3, will support coverage of 80 to 100 percent in commercial, communal, and feedlot cattle. Steenhuisen confirmed agreements with international suppliers.
“Partnerships with global leaders like Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina will ensure that we have a reliable supply, with one million doses ready to be sent as soon as the necessary permits are issued… Biogenesis will also be able to supply an additional five million doses by March 2026,” he said.
Local production through the Agricultural Research Council and Onderstepoort Biological Products will add to supply, starting at 20,000 doses per week and increasing to 960,000 doses.
Surveillance, movement control, and recent action
The plan also strengthens surveillance through digital heatmaps and a Livestock Identification and Traceability System to track animal movement. “With the integration of advanced technology, we are no longer fighting this disease in the dark,” Steenhuisen said.
Outbreaks since 2021 have affected several provinces, while the Northern Cape remains free of FMD. The department will work with provincial veterinary services, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and Red Meat Industry Services to track cases within a 10 km radius and apply quick responses.
Steenhuisen closed with a call for shared responsibility, saying, “We need our farmers to work hand in hand with state veterinarians, to report clinical signs immediately, and to strictly adhere to movement controls… By protecting our national herd, we are protecting our future.”
Be the first to leave a comment