Free State still battling foot-and-mouth disease with 191 active cases
The Free State province in South Africa continues to manage an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, with 191 active cases currently under quarantine. Authorities are accelerating vaccination efforts, though high demand for vaccines has created logistical challenges for farmers.
Why it matters
The ongoing outbreak poses a significant threat to the regional livestock industry and requires strict adherence to biosecurity measures.
BLOEMFONTEIN – More than a year after Foot-and-mouth disease was first confirmed in the Free State, the province is still battling active infections, with the number of confirmed cases now standing at 795.
The latest figures from the Free State Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs show that 191 cases remain active and under quarantine, while 604 have been resolved.
The department reported 12 new clinically confirmed cases in its latest update dated 4 September 2026.
The new cases were recorded in Bethlehem, Welkom, Bultfontein, Fauresmith, Boshof and Bloemfontein.
The province’s outbreak was first confirmed in July 2025, when FMD was detected in the Moqhaka municipal area. The disease was subsequently confirmed in Viljoenskroon in August 2025, adding to concerns about its spread through the province’s livestock industry.
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