The North-West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in South Africa has reported that there have been no new cases of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the province for a week. This is the first time since December 2025 that no new cases have been recorded, which is a positive sign that their efforts to control the disease are working. The province has been actively vaccinating livestock against FMD, having received over 1.5 million vaccine doses and successfully vaccinated more than 1.4 million animals. Madoda Sambatha, the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, expressed optimism about this development but stressed the importance of staying cautious. He urged farmers to maintain strict health measures on their farms and to report any suspected cases of the disease. Looking ahead, the Department plans to start giving booster vaccinations in September 2026 for animals that have already been vaccinated, while also continuing efforts to vaccinate animals in areas that haven't been covered yet. They will collaborate with farmers and other local leaders to improve disease monitoring and vaccination efforts.
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