By Maile Matsimela
The North West Provincial Government’s Department of Agriculture has confirmed an ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the province, with containment efforts intensifying to prevent further spread of the highly contagious livestock disease.
According to the latest update issued on 27 June 2025, the outbreak remains confined to the local municipalities where it was initially detected, though additional spread has been reported to nearby farms in the Ventersdorp area. Affected animals are displaying typical clinical signs, including fever, lameness, and vesicles or sores in the mouth, on the feet and around the teats.
Tissue samples from affected animals have tested positive for FMD, with ongoing testing being conducted within a 10km radius of the outbreak epicentre. The disease affects cloven-hoofed animals, such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and certain wildlife species.
Containment Strategies
The department said a coordinated response is underway through a Veterinary Joint Operations Centre (VJOC), which is implementing several key containment strategies:
- Vaccination Programme: A batch of 30 000 FMD vaccine doses will be administered starting 2 July 2025, with priority given to affected farms. Animals that receive vaccination will be slaughtered under controlled conditions.
- Biosecurity Protocols: Stringent measures include disinfection of farm equipment, a mandatory three-day interval between farm visits, and strict adherence to biosecurity protocols to prevent human-assisted transmission.
- Multi-Agency Collaboration: The Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) has been activated, with involvement from the South African Police Service, Traffic Law Enforcement, and agricultural representatives.
- Legal Framework: A Gazetted Notice on the Gathering of Animals has been distributed to guide enforcement of movement restrictions and other containment measures.
Biosecurity Guidelines
The Department has issued an urgent appeal to farmers to report any suspected cases to State Veterinarians immediately. Livestock owners are also strongly advised to adhere to biosecurity guidelines, including:
- Limiting unnecessary movement of animals.
- Disinfecting vehicles and equipment.
- Implementing visitor controls at farms.
- Observing proper quarantine procedures for new animals.
FMD Incidents Over The Past Five Years
The current outbreak in North West Province follows a series of FMD incidents that have challenged South African agricultural authorities over the past five years:
- From 2021 onward, a significant FMD outbreak began affecting South Africa, with the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province particularly hard-hit. Despite control measures, cases continued to be detected into early 2025.
- In April 2022, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) reported 56 new FMD cases across multiple provinces, including the Free State, KZN, Limpopo, North West and Gauteng, indicating widespread distribution.
- April 2024 saw new outbreaks emerge in the Eastern Cape province, beginning in the Humansdorp area and spreading to areas near East London. A total of 39 farms tested positive and were subsequently quarantined and vaccinated. An additional 36 farms received pre-emptive vaccination.
- By July 2024, the situation in the Eastern Cape prompted the national Department of Agriculture to declare a Disaster Management Area (DMA) to contain the outbreak.
- The recent outbreaks have primarily involved serotypes SAT2 and SAT3. By mid-2024, the Eastern Cape had documented at least 127 cases due to SAT3, while KwaZulu-Natal continued experiencing an ongoing outbreak mainly attributed to SAT2.
- As of January 2025, outbreaks in the Free State, Gauteng, and Limpopo provinces had been resolved, but KZN continued to struggle with persistent cases, with only 17 out of approximately 140 outbreaks resolved.
The North West Province outbreak represents the latest challenge in South Africa’s ongoing battle against this economically devastating livestock disease, which threatens both commercial and subsistence farming operations across the country.
