South Africa Intensifies Fight Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak
South Africa Intensifies Fight Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak
Amid new outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)— a viral infection that mostly affects hoofed animals—the government purchased 901,200 vaccine doses, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said.
Vaccination will begin in mid-June, once vaccines are received and cleared — prioritizing KwaZulu-Natal province, the minister noted.
What else is the government doing to tackle the outbreak?
⦁ Infected farms placed under strict quarantine;
⦁ High-risk areas declared as Disease Management Areas with movement restrictions;
⦁ A centralized FMD Operational Center was launched to coordinate response efforts.
The minister also dismissed public concerns:
▫No meat shortage expected – FMD doesn’t cause mass cattle deaths;
▫Meat remains safe to eat – FMD does not transmit to people.
KwaZulu-Natal has been the hardest-hit province, recording a total of 167 disease outbreaks since 2021 — with only 18 resolved and officially closed, according to the latest report by the Agriculture Ministry.
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