South Africa hit by worst ever foot and mouth disease outbreak
Feb 22nd 2026
Authorities declared a national disaster after FMD spread across almost all nine provinces, prompting mass vaccination, culling and export bans that have crippled the livestock sector.
- A national disaster was declared as the most severe foot and mouth disease outbreak in South African history spreads across nearly all nine provinces.
- Thousands of outbreaks have been reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health.
- Major export markets including China and neighboring countries have suspended South African livestock imports, severely impacting beef exports.
- Authorities aim to achieve FMD-Free Status with Vaccination and are vaccinating a herd of more than 14 million cattle.
- One million high potency vaccine doses arrived from Argentina with more shipments expected and additional supplies from Botswana and Turkey.
- Containment measures include controlled culling and strict movement controls while FMD does not infect humans but causes painful lesions and major production losses in cloven hoofed animals.