Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has announced on Wednesday that early stage data of vaccines against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has indicated that there have been no new outbreaks amongst vaccinated herds. Agricultural experts have welcomed the news.
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South Africa’s efforts to contain the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) are showing encouraging early signs, with no new outbreaks reported among vaccinated herds, according to Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen.
Announcing the latest update this week, Steenhuisen said preliminary data suggests the country’s mass vaccination strategy is beginning to yield positive results. Since February 2026, more than 2 million animals—specifically 2,033,289—have been vaccinated across all provinces as part of a nationwide effort to curb the disease.
Steenhuisen said while outbreaks have been reported across all nine provinces, the intensity varies significantly.
“We have strengthened surveillance and implemented a centralised reporting system, allowing for earlier detection and faster data capture,” he said.
“Furthermore, heightened awareness has helped identify “sub-clinical” cases – where animals carry the virus without showing obvious symptoms – which previously might have gone unnoticed.”
Despite this progress, FMD remains widespread. As of 10 April 2026, authorities have recorded 1,317 cases across all nine provinces, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
Steenhuisen attributed the recent rise in reported infections not necessarily to a worsening outbreak, but to improved surveillance and reporting systems.
Enhanced government capacity, including a centralised data system and increased awareness, has allowed for quicker detection and the identification of sub-clinical cases—animals that carry the virus without obvious symptoms.
A key pillar of the response has been securing a reliable vaccine supply. The government has received four million doses to date, including 2.5 million from Biogénesis Bagó and 1.5 million from Dollvet.
An additional two million doses from Dollvet are expected by the end of April, while a further five million doses have been ordered through Onderstepoort Biological Products, with 3.5 million anticipated to arrive within the same timeframe.
Steenhuisen said vccinations are being deployed using a risk-based strategy, prioritising areas with high concentrations of susceptible livestock. The dairy sector has emerged as a key focus area, with significant progress reported.
All recorded dairy farms in the Free State have been vaccinated, while major dairies in the Western Cape have also been fully covered. In KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape—regions with large animal populations—substantial allocations have been made to the Milk Producers Organisation (MPO), including over 78,000 doses in the Eastern Cape and 350,000 doses in KwaZulu-Natal.
Industry experts have welcomed the developments, while cautioning that the vaccination drive is still in its early stages.
Dawie Maree, head of agriculture information and marketing at FNB Commercial, said the rollout is gaining momentum, which is positive for the sector.
However, Maree noted that with just over two million animals vaccinated, only about 14.3% of the national herd has been covered so far.
“This is likely due more to improved industry discipline around animal movements and proactive measures to curb the spread of the disease, rather than the impact of the vaccination roll-out alone,” he said.
“This indicates that significant work still lies ahead if the Minister aims to reach the 80% vaccination target by December. That said, with the right policy adjustments and stronger collaboration, this target remains attainable.”
Academic experts have echoed similar sentiments. Dranca Neo Phalatse, postgraduate coordinator at the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Pretoria, described the early results as promising but urged caution in interpreting them.
“These developments suggest that the vaccination strategy is beginning to have a positive impact, especially in terms of reducing transmission in targeted areas,” Phalatse said.
“However, while these early indicators are promising, it is important to interpret them with caution. The continued presence of cases across all nine provinces highlights that FMD remains a significant challenge.”
Phalatse emphasised the importance of sustained efforts, including expanding vaccination coverage, ensuring consistent supply, and maintaining strict on-farm biosecurity measures.
Dewald Olivier, CEO of the Red Meat Industry Services, said any indication that vaccination is reducing risk is encouraging for the red meat value chain.
"At the same time, the real impact of the response will depend on the scale, speed and effectiveness of implementation on the ground, because that is what will determine how quickly trade can normalise, operations can stabilise and livelihoods across the value chain can be protected," he said.
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