Hazyview: Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has announced the arrival of a further two million doses of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine from Dollvet in Turkey, bringing the total number of doses imported since late February to eight million. The latest arrival forms part of an accelerated procurement drive, marking a major escalation in the government's war against FMD and reinforcing commitments to biosecurity, food security, and the protection of rural livelihoods.
According to South African Government News Agency, with an additional five million doses expected to arrive shortly, South Africa's total imported vaccine volume will rise to 13 million doses. Combined with the two million doses secured last year from the Botswana Vaccine Institute, the country is projected to have 15 million doses by the end of May 2026. Minister Steenhuisen emphasized the importance of large-scale vaccination to achieve the strategic objective of vaccinating 80% of the national herd, comprising approximately 14 million cattle, by the end of December 2026.
Steenhuisen stressed that the vaccination campaign is central to South Africa's long-term strategy of achieving and maintaining 'FMD free with vaccination' status, aiming to reduce the economic and social damage caused by recurring outbreaks. He stated that securing vaccine volumes on this scale ensures the agricultural sector remains resilient, meets international animal health standards, safeguards domestic food security, and protects export markets.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in tackling transboundary animal diseases, noting that 'diseases do not respect borders.' On 11 May 2026, he joined Eswatini Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, and representatives from Mozambique, in a demonstration of regional solidarity and coordinated action where 300 cattle were vaccinated.
Reflecting on lessons from South America's success in controlling FMD, Steenhuisen stressed that no country can defeat the disease in isolation, advocating for the establishment of a SADC antigen bank for rapid vaccine access. Later this month, Steenhuisen will chair a meeting of Southern African Development Community (SADC) agriculture ministers in Zimbabwe, focusing on a regional platform for animal movement control, livestock traceability, and coordinated response mechanisms for transboundary animal diseases.
Reaffirming government's support for the agricultural sector, Steenhuisen acknowledged the toll the disease has taken on farming communities, expressing a commitment to make this the last major FMD outbreak to devastate the people, and standing firmly with the farmers in the fight against the disease.