North West nears 90% vaccination milestone in fight against foot and mouth disease

By Nkosikhona Malinga-Mnisi

The North West Agriculture Department reports steady progress in containing the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), though officials admit further efforts are required to bring the outbreak under full control.

According to the department, 86% of the 150,000 allocated vaccine doses have already been administered. Despite this progress, some small-scale farmers in the province have raised concerns, claiming they have been sidelined during the mass vaccination drive initiated by the government last month.

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In response to these concerns, the department has reassured the farming community that additional vaccine consignments are expected shortly. This influx is intended to facilitate wider coverage and more robust disease management across the region.

South Africa has grappled with sporadic FMD outbreaks since 2021. In the most recent surge, the North West has recorded 210 confirmed cases.

North West Agriculture spokesperson, Emelda Setlhako, emphasised that the current strategy targets high-risk areas and specific livestock categories to prevent further transmission.

"The campaign remains focused on vaccinating confirmed positive animals, ring vaccination around buffalo farms, protecting dairy herds, and mass vaccination of cloven-hoofed animals across the province," Setlhako stated. "The department further encourages farmers to use permanent ear tags with unique numbers to help speed up the identification and vaccination of animals."