South Africa introduces locally made foot-and-mouth vaccine

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa has announced the rollout of its first locally produced foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in 20 years, as authorities move to contain a surge in infections that has spread across key livestock regions and placed mounting pressure on farmers and veterinary services.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a fast-spreading viral infection that primarily affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals, causing painful sores in the mouth and on the feet that reduce feeding, mobility and overall productivity, even though adult animals rarely die from the illness.

The vaccine was developed by the state-run Agricultural Research Council, which the government says will play a central role in efforts to immunise roughly 80% of South Africa’s estimated 12 million cattle, including about 7.2 million animals raised on commercial farms.

Production targets and supply limits

According to the agriculture ministry, the ARC is expected to begin supplying about 20,000 vaccine doses per week from March 2026, with plans to scale production to approximately 200,000 doses per week from 2027, subject to manufacturing capacity and funding.

The announcement comes as South Africa continues to rely heavily on imported foot-and-mouth vaccines from countries including Botswana, Argentina, and Turkey, a reliance linked to years of limited investment in state-owned vaccine manufacturing facilities.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said the introduction of local production would eventually reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, adding that the aim was to ensure the country could respond more predictably to future outbreaks once full-scale manufacturing is reached.

Farmer backlash over outbreak management

Despite the development, the government is facing growing criticism from livestock producers, who argue that official measures have failed to keep pace with the disease’s spread, leading to movement restrictions, lost income, and disruptions to domestic and export markets.

Two agricultural lobby groups, the Southern African Agri Initiative and Free State Agriculture, have warned they are considering legal action against the state, accusing authorities of responding too slowly and without a coordinated strategy to address the scale of the outbreak.

In public statements, the groups have said fragmented decision-making and weak enforcement have left farmers exposed to continued losses, even as new infections are reported in areas previously considered under control.

The government has not provided a detailed timeline for when vaccination coverage could reach targeted levels, but officials have indicated that the locally produced vaccine is intended to complement, rather than immediately replace, imported supplies during the current crisis.

South Africa last produced a foot-and-mouth vaccine at scale more than two decades ago, and analysts say rebuilding domestic capacity will require sustained funding and regulatory oversight beyond the initial launch phase.

Subscribe to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa, the Middle East and around the world. SUBSCRIBE HERE