There is good news from South Africa’s farming heartland: the North West province has recorded no new cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) over the past week, the first clean week since December 2025.
The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development says the milestone signals a positive shift in the province’s fight against the disease, and shows that intensified vaccination and disease-control interventions are beginning to yield results.
A vaccination drive of remarkable scale
Behind the breakthrough lies one of the province’s largest-ever animal health campaigns. A mass FMD vaccination programme has been rolled out across all four districts and 18 local municipalities as part of the broader national effort to contain the disease and protect the provincial livestock sector.
The numbers are impressive:
- 1 570 100 doses of FMD vaccine received by the province to date
- 1 413 859 animals already vaccinated
- Booster vaccinations set to begin in September in areas where animals received their first doses
“Encouraging” progress, says MEC Sambatha
Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Madoda Sambatha welcomed the development while encouraging farmers to keep up the good work.
“The fact that we have gone a full week without recording a new case of foot-and-mouth disease is encouraging and demonstrates the progress we are making through our collective efforts. However, we must remain vigilant,” Sambatha said.
The MEC emphasised that vaccination works best when complemented by responsible livestock management and adherence to disease-control measures, and the department urged farmers to report any suspected cases immediately so early detection can keep the momentum going.
Team effort across the province
The department reaffirmed its commitment to working hand-in-hand with farmers, organised agriculture, municipalities and traditional leaders to strengthen disease surveillance and expand vaccination coverage, alongside continued efforts to reach animals in areas not yet covered by the programme.
For a province where cattle are wealth, heritage and livelihood rolled into one, a quiet week on the FMD front is loud good news, and a tribute to what vets, farmers and communities can achieve together. Source: SAnews.gov.za
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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