The number of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) cases continues to increase across South Africa, with a sharp increase in some provinces. The government says vaccination efforts are underway, but supply constraints and slow rollout remain major challenges.
By Michelle van der Spuy, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
In the Free State the number is foot and mouth disease (FMD) the number of cases rose by almost 90 in one week, the Ministry of Agriculture revealed in a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture this week.
Dr. Bothle Modisane, chief executive for animal production and health, told the committee on Tuesday, April 21, that 1,502 new cases had been reported across the country on April 17.
The increase was particularly noticeable in the Free State, where the number of cases rose from 328 to 414 within seven days. Significant increases were also recorded in the North West (from 247 to 268 cases) and the Eastern Cape (from 71 to 104 cases).
As of April 17, there were 257 cases in KwaZulu-Natal, 243 in Gauteng, 144 in Limpopo, 13 in the Western Cape and 4 in the Northern Cape.
Dipepeneneng Serage, deputy director-general for agricultural production, biosecurity and natural resources, said the failure to increase cases in the Western Cape since March 27 was due to the speed of vaccination in the province and the effectiveness of the provincial government.
As before, the department attributed the continued rise in cases to increased reporting and improved surveillance. It also noted that some animals develop a subclinical form of the disease, which delays detection.
Modisane said the department would allocate additional vaccine doses to provinces where cases have increased to help bring the situation under control.
He added that other countries have also recently reported foot and mouth outbreaks. The most recent took place in March in China, where similar problems were experienced, especially regarding the availability of vaccines. The department expects these outbreaks to increase global competition for vaccines.
Although it is therefore unthinkable that even one drop of vaccine is wasted, Modisane notes that between 6% and 8% of vaccine vials are broken. The department has asked for an explanation for these losses.
Serage said the bottles were not damaged in transit, but rather on farms, where accidents during the vaccination process were sometimes inevitable.
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Vaccine rollout remains slow
As of April 17, approximately 2.13 million cattle had been vaccinated. Serage said the department was unhappy with the slow progress of the vaccination programme, largely because vaccines need to be imported.
As of Tuesday, April 21, the department had received 4 million doses. On Wednesday, April 22, another 2 million doses of the Dollvet vaccine were received from Türkiye, which will be distributed soon. This is part of an order for 6 million doses from the manufacturer.
The department has also placed an order for 5 million doses from Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina. These will arrive in two shipments – 3.5 million and 1.5 million doses – once approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).
Serage said that while there are plans to produce vaccines locally, registration is a lengthy process and there is little appetite from the private sector at the moment. Moreover, the necessary infrastructure is not yet in place. However, the department has secured funding for equipment and local production is expected to begin in late November.
Also read: From our editor: When progress does not reach the farmer
Proposed regulatory changes
Modisane said the department was considering amendments to regulations on animal movement, but these changes needed to be aligned with other regulations to avoid contradictions.
More than 350 submissions have been received on the proposed routine vaccination program for foot and mouth disease under section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984), and it is now under review.
In this draft diagram, published in the Government Gazette on Friday, April 10, the department is proposing a structured national framework for disease control through systematic vaccination, with a strong focus on traceability, surveillance and government-industry collaboration. It allows farmers and their workers to participate in vaccination, but only within a structured framework.
According to the Gazette notice, vaccinations may be administered by state veterinarians, licensed private veterinarians or animal health technicians, as well as by owners or their employees under supervision. Standard operating procedures are also provided, covering everything from vaccine use and dosing to animal monitoring, reporting and identification.
Modisane said the aim is to empower farmers to protect their animals, rather than placing full responsibility on the government.
Also read: FMD | Disaster status allows for changes in legislation
No financial help for farmers
FMD leads to significant economic losses, says Laetitia Arries, an EFF MP and member of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture.
She said the disease is not only a problem for farmers but also a threat to the national economy. The financial consequences are particularly severe for small-scale farmers who rely on livestock sales and have limited savings.
Serage said the department sympathizes with affected farmers but does not have the financial resources to compensate them for losses caused by FMD.
Department officials met with their provincial counterparts this week and asked for reviews to determine whether provincial disaster classifications are warranted. Currently, FMD is only classified as a national disaster.
Also read: FMD: ‘The virus doesn’t care about factions or blame shifting’
Concerns about the black market for vaccines
Désirée van der Walt, DA MP and alternate member of the Agriculture Portfolio Committee, expressed concern about a possible black market for vaccines. She said doses were reportedly being sold for R300 in KwaZulu-Natal.
Serage said the department has also heard these reports and urged that such incidents be reported to police or the department because it is illegal for private individuals to possess or sell FMD vaccine doses.
Watch and read also:
‘No FMD vaccines in black plastic bags’ – MEC Ramokgopa warns farmers against fraudsters
Weekly RMIS FMD update: vaccine supply and strategic planning
The FMD in Botswana is starting to run away from the authorities
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