Johannesburg: The first consignment of one million high-potency Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine doses from Biog©nesis Bag³ in Argentina is expected to arrive in South Africa this weekend, providing significant assistance to the most affected provinces and regions. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced that this shipment marks the initial phase of a broader agreement, with an additional five million doses scheduled for delivery in March.
According to South African Government News Agency, the vaccines are part of the Department of Agriculture's new strategy to combat FMD, aiming to proactively vaccinate South Africa's national herd of over 14 million cattle. The ultimate goal is to achieve an 'FMD-Free Status with Vaccination'. Besides the supply from Argentina, Steenhuisen noted that the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) remains a crucial partner, having delivered two million doses since the recent outbreak and is expected to continue supplying vaccines monthly.
Steenhuisen further announced that Dollvet in Turkey, through its local agent Dunevax, would also supply vaccines. On 6 February 2026, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) handed over the first batch of 12,900 locally produced FMD vaccine doses, which have since been distributed to the provinces. The ARC has committed to producing 20,000 doses weekly, with plans to increase to 200,000 doses per week by 2027.
By the end of March, over five million vaccine doses from three international suppliers are anticipated to have entered the country. Steenhuisen emphasized the importance of farmers in the economy, urging every South African to support them by adhering to movement controls and biosecurity protocols. He also confirmed that veterinary capacity is being expanded as part of the national vaccine rollout, allowing private veterinarians to register to administer vaccines to meet the target of vaccinating 80% of the national herd by December.
To further support farmers, the department has established a dedicated FMD Control Centre, with a toll-free support line available from 18 February for expert guidance on FMD. The support line will offer information about symptoms, advice on movement controls, updates on vaccine availability, and practical biosecurity tips.
Additionally, all properties with suspected or confirmed cases of FMD are immediately placed under quarantine, with movement restrictions on live cloven-hoofed animals and unprocessed animal products. Farmers are advised to implement strict biosecurity measures to prevent further spread. Steenhuisen warned that if outbreaks occur in areas where movement controls cannot be enforced or cooperation is lacking, a Disease Management Area (DMA) might be declared, subjecting all properties to the same movement control conditions.