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South Africa Launches First Locally-Made FMD Vaccine in 20 Years

South Africa has released its first locally produced foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in nearly two decades. An initial batch of 12,900 doses was announced, with production expected to reach 20,000 doses per week by March. The move marks a strategic shift towards a proactive, science-led campaign to control the disease and help the country regain its FMD-free status. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen stated the vaccine strengthens the country's defence and aims to reduce long-term reliance on foreign suppliers.

Key Points: South Africa Releases First Local FMD Vaccine in Decades

  • First local FMD vaccine in 20 years
  • Initial batch of 12,900 doses released
  • Goal to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers
  • Part of proactive science-led campaign
  • Aims to help regain FMD-free status
2 min read

South Africa releases first locally produced FMD vaccine in 20 years

South Africa produces its first local foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in 20 years, aiming for proactive disease control and reduced import reliance.

"This will strengthen our frontline defence against foot-and-mouth disease. - John Steenhuisen"

Johannesburg, Feb 7

South Africa has released its first locally produced vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease in nearly two decades, the country's Department of Agriculture said.

At a press briefing, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, together with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the vaccine developer and producer, announced the release of an initial batch of 12,900 vaccine doses, with production expected to rise to 20,000 doses per week by March.

The ARC said plans are being prepared to distribute the vaccine to herds across the country.

According to a statement from the department, the milestone marks a shift from a largely reactive response to a more proactive, science-led campaign against the disease, to help South Africa regain its FMD-free status from the World Organisation for Animal Health.

"This will strengthen our frontline defence against foot-and-mouth disease," Steenhuisen said, noting that the country's long-term goal is to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for the FMD vaccine, Xinhua news agency reported.

The FMD primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. In most cases, the symptoms include fever, painful sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters on the hands, feet, and buttocks.

FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact.

The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants.

Intensively reared animals are more susceptible to the disease than traditional breeds. The disease is rarely fatal in adult animals, but there is often high mortality in young animals due to myocarditis or, when the dam is infected by the disease, lack of milk.

FMD is characterised by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves. The disease causes severe production losses, and, while the majority of affected animals recover, the disease often leaves them weakened and debilitated.

All seven of the serotypes have also been found in wildlife. African buffalo are important carriers for FMDV. Other species of wildlife do not seem to be able to maintain FMD viruses.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As someone from a farming family, I know how devastating FMD can be. Losing even a few animals can ruin a family for years. Good to see proactive measures. Hope the distribution reaches the small farmers who need it most.
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Aman W
Reducing reliance on foreign suppliers is key for any nation's food security. A lesson for us too. Our dairy and meat industry is massive, we must protect it with strong domestic science.
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Sarah B
Interesting read. The article mentions wildlife like African buffalo as carriers. In India, we have similar challenges with diseases spreading from wild populations to livestock. Cross-border cooperation on veterinary health is so important.
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Vikram M
While this is positive, the initial batch of ~13k doses seems very small for a country. Hope they ramp up production quickly as promised. Animal health directly impacts human livelihoods and the economy.
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Nisha Z
Science-led campaigns are the way forward. Reactive measures are always more costly. Good move by SA. Our Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) does great work too, but public awareness is low. 👏

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