Following South Africa’s milestone in animal health on Friday, 6 February with the delivery of its first locally produced foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine in 20 years, the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed 35 additional cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) a day later.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
This brings the provincial total to 291 confirmed cases as of 6 February.
The department says the latest outbreak has affected farms across multiple municipalities, with Marquard/Senekal recording the highest number of new cases at seven, followed by QwaQwa/Harrismith with six cases. Four new cases were confirmed in the Odendaalsrus/Welkom/Ventersburg area, and Parys/Vredefort and Heilbron each reported three cases.
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Several areas recorded two cases each, including Bethlehem, Hlohlolwane (Clocolan), Edenburg, Kroonstad and Warden. Single cases were confirmed in Sasolburg/Deneysville, Cornelia/Frankfort/Villiers, Reitz/Lindley, Viljoenskroon/Vredefort and Bothaville.
Current Outbreak Status
The disease has now spread across 13 local municipalities throughout the province. The most severely affected area remains Viljoenskroon/Vredefort in Moqhaka Local Municipality with 52 confirmed cases, followed closely by Parys/Vredefort in Ngwathe Local Municipality with 45 cases. Sasolburg/Deneysville in Metsimaholo Local Municipality has recorded 43 cases and Cornelia/Frankfort/Villiers in Mafube Local Municipality has reported 27 cases.
The department reports that other significant outbreaks include Marquard/Senekal and Hlohlolwane (Clocolan) in Setsoto Local Municipality with 14 cases each, Kroonstad in Moqhaka Local Municipality with 13 cases, and QwaQwa/Harrismith in Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality with 12 cases. Smaller clusters have been identified in Vrede/Memel (12 cases), Edenville (11 cases), Reitz/Lindley (nine cases), Warden (eight cases), Heilbron (seven cases), Odendaalsrus/Welkom/Ventersburg (seven cases), Bethlehem (six cases), Bothaville (four cases), Tweeling (three cases), and both Rouxville and Edenburg with two cases each.
Additionally, a suspected case has been reported near Bloemfontein, with the department implementing precautionary quarantine measures pending laboratory confirmation.
Also read: FMD | ‘It’s here. We’re doing what we can to delay its spread’ – Mayor Pappas
Control Measures in Place
The department has implemented comprehensive movement restrictions affecting all farms within a 10km radius of infected properties, placing them under quarantine with movement restrictions for cloven-hoofed animals throughout the affected areas.
Strict biosecurity requirements are now mandatory across all farms, including comprehensive vehicle and equipment disinfection protocols. New livestock must undergo a mandatory 28-day quarantine period before introduction to existing herds. Farmers must maintain accurate and detailed records of all animal movements and visitors to their properties, and must immediately report any animals displaying suspicious symptoms to veterinary authorities.
Compliance Concerns
The department has expressed serious concern about increasing noncompliance among farmers, particularly regarding the under-reporting of suspected FMD cases. This failure to report constitutes a criminal offence under Section 11 of the Animal Diseases Act (Act No. 35 of 1984) and creates significant challenges for disease management.
Also watch: SA’s own FMD vaccines – we were there!
Many farmers are no longer adhering to established biosecurity principles, significantly increasing the risk of viral spread to neighbouring properties. This inadequate reporting severely hampers effective vaccination campaign planning, as accurate data is essential for determining vaccine quantities and deployment strategies. The department warns that poor compliance may result in vaccine shortages in specific areas and delays in implementing control measures, thereby increasing the risk of further disease spread.
Legal Obligations
Under the Animal Diseases Act and Government Gazette No. 51512, farmers face strict legal obligations. They must immediately report any animals showing excessive salivation, mouth lesions or lameness to local veterinary authorities. All movement of cloven-hoofed animals must be restricted according to current regulations and proper quarantine procedures must be maintained at all times.
Farmers are required to keep detailed records of animal movements and maintain comprehensive visitor logs for their properties. The department emphasises that moving animals under quarantine without proper documentation constitutes a criminal offence and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Call for Cooperation
The department has issued an urgent appeal for industry-wide cooperation, stating that farmers, industry partners and all stakeholders must work together to stop the spread of this disease. Officials stress that remaining silent about suspected cases will only prolong the outbreaks and delay the process of returning to normal agricultural operations.
The department emphasises that the successful control and eventual eradication of the outbreak depends entirely on full cooperation with quarantine regulations and immediate reporting of suspected cases. It warns that the livestock industry’s future depends on collective action and responsible farming practices during this critical period.
Also read: FMD: What can you do? – Dr Sipokazi Nyeleka
Contact Information
For veterinary services and technical support, farmers are urged to contact Dr Jurgens Barnard, acting director of Veterinary Services, on 066 025 2229 or via email at jbfsvet@gmail.com. The department’s main hotline (051 861 8515) remains available for general enquiries and reporting.
The department strongly encourages farmers to contact their nearest state veterinarian or animal health technician immediately if they suspect FMD in their livestock. Early reporting and intervention remain crucial for containing the outbreak and protecting the Free State’s livestock industry from further economic damage.
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