South Africa says foot-and-mouth disease under control as Namibia strengthens safeguards
South Africa is managing its largest-ever foot-and-mouth disease outbreak by accelerating its vaccination program. The country has provided 50,000 vaccine doses to neighboring Namibia, Eswatini, and Lesotho to bolster regional containment efforts.
Why it matters
Effective disease control is critical for the stability of the regional livestock industry and cross-border trade in Southern Africa.
NAMIBIA is among the Southern African countries working with South Africa to strengthen preparedness against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), with South Africa having provided 50,000 vaccine doses to Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho amid the region’s ongoing disease risk.
South African Agriculture Minister Willem Abraham Stephanus Aucamp said South Africa was dealing with what he described as the country’s largest-ever FMD outbreak, but that the situation was increasingly being brought under control through an accelerated vaccination programme and closer cooperation with neighbouring countries.
Speaking at the Agri Limpopo Congress in Modimolle, Aucamp said South Africa had decided to vaccinate its entire cattle herd and had significantly increased the importation and distribution of FMD vaccines.
“We have from South Africa’s side already provided 50,000 doses or vaccines to Namibia, Eswatini as well as Lesotho so that they can be prepared should there be outbreaks, they can immediately counter them,” he said.
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