South Africa has kicked off a nationwide vaccination campaign to tackle a rising outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which has already spread across four provinces.
Earlier this week, the country’s agriculture minister visited a major beef producer in Heidelberg, Gauteng Province, where FMD was recently detected. He observed the vaccination process firsthand and confirmed that nearly a million doses of the vaccine had arrived and were already being administered.
According to him, a second shipment is on the way, and more will follow to help contain the disease not only in Gauteng but also in KwaZulu-Natal, where infections have been especially severe.
“We are taking decisive action to bring this under control,” he said, adding that the financial toll of the outbreaks has already run into the hundreds of millions.
He also revealed that four provinces are currently grappling with FMD cases, with the hardest-hit areas being northern KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng.
Strict regulations have been put in place to control livestock movement and auction operations. The minister warned that anyone found violating these rules could face criminal prosecution.
This response comes amid growing concern over the impact of FMD on livestock, trade, and the broader agricultural economy.