Johannesburg, South Africa — 2026-02-07 South Africa Produces First Local Vaccine to Combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
In a significant breakthrough for South African agriculture, the country has produced its first locally — made foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine in nearly 21 years.
The initial batch of 12,900 doses of the vaccine has been produced using modern bioreactor technology and is set to be distributed across six provinces.
According to official statements, the vaccine’s production marks a shift from reactive disease control to a proactive, science-led campaign. South Africa has been battling an outbreak of the disease, which has affected its livestock sector and trade relations with neighboring countries, prompting trading partners to suspend imports of meat and related products.
The government has outlined a multi — phase plan to regain control over the situation and alleviate the stress on livestock farmers.
Until the end of January, around two million animals were vaccinated, with the aim to have an additional 5 million vaccine doses available by March. Stricter testing and checks are expected to reduce the spread of the disease and detect new cases faster, with authorities hoping to reduce outbreaks by more than 70% in high-risk areas by next January.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen highlighted the importance of the vaccine, noting, “This will strengthen our frontline defence against foot-and-mouth disease.”.
The locally — produced vaccines are expected to accelerate the vaccination campaign, providing a crucial tool in the fight against the disease. Livestock farmers and political parties have been calling for a national state of disaster declaration due to the severity of the outbreak.
The locally — made vaccine is seen as a critical step towards stabilizing the situation and ensuring the country’s agricultural sector remains resilient.
Further details regarding the distribution and effectiveness of the vaccine are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
The South African government remains committed to controlling the outbreak and protecting its livestock population.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
