Gauteng records 96% drop in new FMD outbreaks

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<p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Gauteng has reported a sharp decline in new </em><a href="https://www.africanfarming.com/foot-and-mouth-disease-crisis/"><em>foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)</em></a><em> outbreaks, with new cases falling from 166 between October 2025 and January 2026 to just six between June and August 2026.</em></p>

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<p><strong><em>By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming</em></strong></p>

<p>The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) says this represents a 96.34% decline in new outbreaks, signalling progress in efforts to bring the disease under control.</p>

<p>The province attributes the improvement to its FMD Rapid Response Approach, which has included increased vaccination, surveillance, movement controls and biosecurity measures, supported by additional resources for field personnel and disease control.</p>

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<h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.africanfarming.com/2026/03/07/watch-government-ramps-up-fmd-vaccination-campaign-in-gauteng/"><strong>WATCH | Government ramps up FMD vaccination campaign in Gauteng</strong></a><strong></strong></h4>

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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>More than 542 000 animals vaccinated</strong></h3>