South Africa struggles with FMD due to porous borders

SOUTH AFRICA – Limpopo province is facing increasing cases of foot and mouth disease (FMD) as the absence of a border fence with Zimbabwe and damaged redline fences allow infected animals to move freely, South Africa’s Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said.

Steenhuisen spoke while leading the fourth nationwide mass vaccination campaign against FMD in Polokwane, following previous roll-outs in Gauteng, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal.

The minister identified wandering buffalo from Zimbabwe and Kruger National Park as key sources of the virus in Limpopo, noting that African buffalo naturally carry FMD without showing severe illness.

He added that elephants migrating from Zimbabwe in search of grazing often destroy sections of the veterinary cordon fence, also known as the redline fence, allowing buffalo to escape and come into contact with cattle.

“Limpopo faces persistent challenges due to infections from Zimbabwe and the movement of buffalo across the Kruger National Park boundary, with broken fences enabling cross-contamination that affects cattle in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal,” Steenhuisen explained.

Authorities plan to vaccinate over 80% of the national cattle herd by December 2026 once shipments of five million and six million doses arrive from Biogenesis and Dolve, which are expected to significantly reduce FMD incidents by around 70%.

The minister confirmed that the arrival of these vaccines will provide the coverage needed to meet the nationwide target and strengthen ongoing prophylactic efforts in vulnerable regions.

Local farmer Tommie Van Zyl reported differences in disease expression between cattle breeds, highlighting the Nguni breed’s resilience compared with the crossbreed Bonsmara.

Van Zyl said his herd of 70 bulls, comprising Nguni and Bonsmara cattle, all showed initial symptoms in early February, but the Nguni recovered faster and showed minimal signs of limping by mid-February.

He observed that while all animals experienced FMD, the severity was lower in Nguni cattle due to long-term exposure to the virus over generations, whereas Bonsmara cattle displayed more pronounced symptoms.

The vaccination campaign in Limpopo is set to expand immediately across the province, with officials emphasising rapid coverage to contain the spread and limit economic losses to farmers.

Steenhuisen reiterated that consistent monitoring and vaccination, alongside efforts to repair the redline fence, are essential to controlling outbreaks in border regions and wildlife interface areas.

The campaign reflects the government’s strategy to address both cross-border transmission and local outbreaks by combining vaccination with wildlife management and fence maintenance initiatives.

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