As foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to pose a threat to livestock systems throughout Southern Africa, the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has announced several measures to support affected countries. The institute is deploying technical expertise and strengthening regional cooperation to contain the outbreak and safeguard the sector.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
BVI has acknowledged the scale and seriousness of the current FMD outbreak affecting the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, reaffirming its longstanding commitment to regional animal health, resilience and strategic partnerships.
In a statement issued this week, BVI spokesperson Sakaiyo Baitshepi said the institute has activated its Customer Value Proposition in response to heightened demand linked to the outbreak. As part of this intervention, BVI has deployed technical support teams to the region, with a technical mission recently sent to Eswatini to reinforce local veterinary capacity. Further deployments are currently being planned for other countries where new FMD outbreaks have been reported.
“These technical missions are critical in supporting the evaluation of the nature and dynamics of FMD outbreaks,” said Baitshepi. “This information is essential to inform response interventions, including the formulation and supply of targeted, fit-for-purpose vaccines under emergency conditions.”
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Compliance is Crucial
Baitshepi urged livestock producers, industry stakeholders and the general public to strictly comply with disease control measures implemented by veterinary and regulatory authorities. These include movement restrictions, quarantine protocols and other biosecurity measures, which he said remain central to effective outbreak containment and the protection of the regional livestock sector.
“As the institute joins the region in responding to the escalating FMD situation, adherence to these measures is critical for safeguarding animal health and sustaining livelihoods,” he said.
He added that BVI remains confident that, through continued collaboration, strong technical rigour and transparent communication, the region is well positioned to mitigate the current outbreak and strengthen long-term animal health systems.
With more than 40 years of experience as Africa’s leading veterinary vaccine manufacturer and research institute, BVI has a proven track record in regional FMD control. The institute has successfully supported previous outbreaks through laboratory diagnostics and the supply of fit-for-purpose vaccines tailored to specific outbreak conditions.
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