South Africa battles foot-and-mouth surge as vaccine shortages fuel farmers’ fears

SOUTH AFRICA – Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is spreading rapidly through South Africa’s livestock industry, leaving farmers anxious and fearful as the number of outbreaks outpaces the country’s ability to vaccinate. 

As of July, 270 outbreaks have been recorded across five provinces, with only 21 resolved and 249 still active. The most recent flare-ups have been reported in the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen said on Monday that while the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) is nearing completion of a locally produced vaccine, South Africa will continue importing doses from the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) to bolster immediate containment efforts.

“What we are going to have to do is start a massive vaccination programme, which means in the short term we’re going to have to use BVI. We have to bring in more vaccines from there, and we’re going to have a steady flow of vaccines coming in from Botswana,” Steenhuisen told reporters. “The goal is that in a year or two we’ll be making our own here in South Africa.”

A race against the virus

The ARC’s vaccine will target the SAT 1, SAT 2, and SAT 3 strains of FMD, potentially reducing reliance on imports. Steenhuisen added that South Africa ultimately hopes to achieve an FMD-free status without vaccination, similar to Brazil. 

However, he acknowledged that this will require sector-wide consultations and solutions to challenges related to current vaccination rules.

One key issue is the so-called “fifth quarter” offal and other by-products critical for food security among poorer households. Current regulations require disposal of the fifth quarter from animals in FMD-affected areas, leading to significant food and income losses.

“There are problems with vaccines… but new research shows you can safely treat the fifth quarter, and we’re working with the ARC to guide us on that,” Steenhuisen said.

Industry leaders say the situation on the ground is worsening. Red Meat Producers Association CEO Frikkie Maré warned that outbreaks are now occurring almost daily on both small and large farms, as well as in informal settlements.

“If this is found on your property, you are basically being cut off economically. You can’t move your animals, you cannot do anything, you don’t have a source of income,” Maré said in an interview with SABC News. 

Maré said farmers urgently need more vaccines and suggested that alternative suppliers be considered to close the gap. 

He also urged the government to review movement restrictions after vaccinated animals have completed the required 28-day on-farm period, so that farmers in disease management areas can regain market access.

KwaZulu-Natal farmers, he noted, have been without income since February when the province’s disease management area was expanded.

“Up to today, a lot of those farmers still don’t have market access. They haven’t received any income since the end of February, which is quite a problem,” Maré said.

With the virus spreading faster than vaccines can be administered, the clock is ticking for South Africa’s livestock industry. 

Until local production comes online, officials and farmers alike are calling for swift action to secure enough vaccines, stem the outbreaks, and prevent devastating economic losses.

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