Nation Aims to Curb Worst Livestock Outbreak Through Domestic Production
South Africa has taken a critical step in combating its most severe foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in recent years with Friday's launch of its first locally produced vaccine since 2006. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced the initial batch of 12,900 doses during a press briefing, with production projected to reach 20,000 weekly doses by March 2026.
The vaccine forms the cornerstone of a national strategy to immunize 80% of South Africa's 12 million cattle, including 7.2 million on commercial farms. This development comes as the country currently relies on imports from Botswana, Argentina, and Türkiye due to limited domestic manufacturing capacity.
"This marks the beginning of vaccine sovereignty in our fight against livestock epidemics," Steenhuisen stated, emphasizing the long-term goal of self-reliance. The announcement follows mounting pressure from agricultural groups like the Southern African Agri Initiative, which has criticized the government's "structurally inadequate" response to the highly contagious disease.
While rarely fatal, foot-and-mouth disease causes debilitating blisters that reduce milk production and weight gain in cattle, costing farmers millions annually. The new vaccination drive aims to protect both commercial operations and small-scale farmers crucial to regional food security.
