KwaZulu-Natal is stepping up its response to the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, with provincial authorities confirming that a large-scale vaccination rollout will begin in February.

By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming

Thami Ntuli, KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial premier, and his cabinet have acknowledged the challenges posed by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the province, while also commending Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, for her efforts to combat the spread of the disease.

A cabinet meeting was held on Wednesday 14 January in Pietermaritzburg. This followed reports from the department indicating that FMD has spread to all districts in the province, with recent outbreaks reported in the Ugu and Harry Gwala districts.

National Vaccination Strategy Implementation

The cabinet said it would shortly announce interventions to strengthen the FMD vaccination drive, complementing the national department’s mass vaccination strategy, which is expected to make vaccines accessible from February. The vaccines will be received in phases and are expected to cover about 80-90% of KwaZulu-Natal’s cattle population.

This comes at a critical time for KwaZulu-Natal, which has become the epicentre of the outbreak.

Current Outbreak Statistics

To date, 207 FMD outbreaks have been recorded in the province, placing KwaZulu-Natal in a high-risk category and posing a serious threat to the livestock industry, livestock exports and food security.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (KZN DARD) says it has implemented extensive control measures since the first outbreak was recorded in Mtubatuba in May 2021, and it has vaccinated about 800 000 cattle to date.

Province-Wide Vaccination Rollout

Vaccination remains a critical tool in containing the disease and protecting the province’s livestock sector, kaMadlopha-Mthethwa says.

“Our veterinarians are actively on the ground, working closely with farmers to manage and contain this disease. The demand for FMD vaccines is extremely high, and farmers have experienced challenges in accessing vaccines. As the provincial government, we are pleased to announce that a province-wide vaccination rollout will commence in February.”

The rollout plan covers feedlots, dairy farms, commercial farms and communal farming areas, with further details on dates and locations to be communicated in due course. KwaZulu-Natal will be the starting point of the national livestock vaccination programme, and all livestock owners are urged to cooperate fully with veterinary officials when the campaign begins next month.

Control Measures and Surveillance

Despite the scale of the outbreak, KZN DARD initially managed to contain FMD to the northern parts of the province through the implementation of four key control measures: surveillance (both diagnostic and clinical), movement control, vaccination, and community engagement and extension services.

The department says surveillance has been successfully implemented, with veterinary services using GPS technology to accurately track positive cases. As of December 2025, more than 19 000 animals have been sampled and tested across the province.

Stakeholder Engagement and Industry Collaboration

The department has also prioritised stakeholder engagement to strengthen the response to FMD. The FMD Consultative Indaba held in Durban in October 2025 brought together key role players in the livestock industry, including the milk producers’ organisation Milk SA, pharmaceutical companies, state-owned entities, universities, livestock associations, Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) and private-sector partners. Resolutions from the indaba are currently being implemented and monitored.

KZN DARD says it continues to work closely with industry stakeholders, including the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) through technical forums aimed at sharing information and coordinating interventions to control the disease.

Public Awareness Campaign

The MEC further announced that members of the Executive Council, led by Premier Ntuli, will spearhead a public awareness campaign to educate communities about FMD and the importance of complying with control measures. Details of the awareness campaign, including dates and locations, will be communicated to the public in due course.