South Africa to ramp up vaccinations as foot-and-mouth disease spreads
South Africa is building up vaccine stocks and expanding inoculations to fight a worsening foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, the agriculture ministry said, as the country faces threats to beef supplies.
FMD is a highly contagious viral infection of cloven-hoofed animals that may also affect other species. Flare-ups have been reported over the past several months in five provinces, with KwaZulu-Natal being the worst affected.
This week Karan Beef, which operates the country's largest feedlot and one of the world's biggest, reported an outbreak at its facility in Heidelberg, about 50km southeast of Johannesburg. The quarantine imposed on the feedlot, which slaughters about 2,000 cattle daily, could affect beef supplies.
The government has ordered more than 900,000 doses of FMD vaccines, with the first batch expected to arrive next week, the ministry said on Thursday.
'These plans are not only about responding to outbreaks but also about building permanent infrastructure to manage future risks,' it said.
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The South African
18 hours ago
- The South African
Government rolls out poultry vaccines, tackles FMD outbreaks
To curb the spread of animal disease, the government has launched a national poultry vaccination campaign while intensifying its response to ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks. Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen confirmed the rollout of avian influenza vaccines on high-risk poultry farms, saying the campaign forms part of a broader preparedness strategy. 'We have secured vaccine supply, ensured cold chain capacity, and are building in traceability and reporting mechanisms as part of a wider preparedness strategy,' Steenhuisen said during his media briefing on Thursday. The vaccination drive against avian influenza is already active across commercial farms, with veterinary experts from the University of Pretoria and the Agricultural Research Council supporting the initiative. The department has hired 50 newly contracted animal health technicians to strengthen the effort. Induction and refresher training will take place in the coming week. The decision follows a string of avian flu cases that have strained the poultry sector, threatening food security and export potential. The campaign is designed not just to address current outbreaks but also to build a sustainable framework for future prevention. The minister also revealed updates on the government's fight against FMD, which has recently surfaced in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga. More than 900 000 vaccine doses have been ordered, with the first deliveries expected within days. 'These plans are not only about responding to outbreaks but also about building permanent infrastructure to manage future risks,' Steenhuisen noted. This infrastructure includes a Biosecurity Council that will bring together scientists, veterinarians, police, border authorities, and industry experts. The council's role will be to coordinate biosecurity efforts and strengthen early warning systems. The strategy also focuses on long-term resilience. The state-owned Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) facility is being upgraded to ensure domestic vaccine production, while rural veterinary services are being reinforced. A farm-to-fork traceability system is in the early stages of implementation, and a new dip tank model, created in collaboration with traditional leaders, aims to enhance disease containment at the community level. 'Biosecurity is not just an agricultural issue. It is a national security issue, and we are treating it as such,' said Steenhuisen. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
South Africa to ramp up vaccinations as foot-and-mouth disease spreads
South Africa is building up vaccine stocks and expanding inoculations to fight a worsening foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, the agriculture ministry said, as the country faces threats to beef supplies. FMD is a highly contagious viral infection of cloven-hoofed animals that may also affect other species. Flare-ups have been reported over the past several months in five provinces, with KwaZulu-Natal being the worst affected. This week Karan Beef, which operates the country's largest feedlot and one of the world's biggest, reported an outbreak at its facility in Heidelberg, about 50km southeast of Johannesburg. The quarantine imposed on the feedlot, which slaughters about 2,000 cattle daily, could affect beef supplies. The government has ordered more than 900,000 doses of FMD vaccines, with the first batch expected to arrive next week, the ministry said on Thursday. 'These plans are not only about responding to outbreaks but also about building permanent infrastructure to manage future risks,' it said.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
South Africa to ramp up vaccinations as foot-and-mouth disease spreads
South Africa is building up vaccine stocks and expanding inoculations to fight a worsening foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, the agriculture ministry said, as the country faces threats to beef supplies. FMD is a highly contagious viral infection of cloven-hoofed animals that may also affect other species. Flare-ups have been reported over the past several months in five provinces, with KwaZulu-Natal being the worst affected. This week Karan Beef, which operates the country's largest feedlot and one of the world's biggest, reported an outbreak at its facility in Heidelberg, about 50km southeast of Johannesburg. The quarantine imposed on the feedlot, which slaughters about 2,000 cattle daily, could affect beef supplies. The government has ordered more than 900,000 doses of FMD vaccines, with the first batch expected to arrive next week, the ministry said on Thursday. 'These plans are not only about responding to outbreaks but also about building permanent infrastructure to manage future risks,' it said.
