Massive inoculation drive gains momentum
Authorities in the Eastern Cape have administered Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccinations to more than 94 000 cattle as the province intensifies its battle to contain the outbreak and shield surrounding areas from further infection.
The provincial Department of Agriculture confirmed that 94 000 animals received their jabs last week, with an additional 973 cattle vaccinated across three farms in the Walter Sisulu District on Monday, 9 March 2026. The campaign was bolstered by the arrival of the first 150 000 doses from a one million-dose shipment of the Biogénesis Bagó foot-and-mouth vaccine, imported from Argentina, which landed in the province late last week.
In total, the department has secured 1.05 million vaccine doses through state-owned designated supplier Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), funded by R55 million in emergency allocation from the provincial Treasury last month. The Eastern Cape is home to an estimated 3.5 million cattle, underscoring the scale of the task ahead.
"The vaccination team made of veterinary officials, animal health technicians and extension officers are working around the clock to vaccinate an average of 12 000 cattle per day across the province."
Provincial officials have adopted a strategic approach, targeting high-risk municipalities that border affected zones first before extending operations inward to other identified hotspots. The latest consignment supplements 2 600 doses previously supplied by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in mid-February, which were deployed to the communal farm at Kouga to safeguard nearby dairy operations and protect jobs in the sector.
Farm-by-farm operations target hotspots
On Monday, vaccination crews moved through three properties in quick succession. At Oosthuizen Farm in Draaihoek, 208 cattle were inoculated, followed by 219 at Strydfontein Farm. Both properties are situated in Maletswai, within a 10km radius of Joe Gqabi Kraal, where livestock previously tested positive for FMD.
"Vaccination at these farms was carried out as a preventative measure aimed at strengthening disease control and reducing the risk of the virus spreading to nearby livestock."
The third site visited was Vaalbank Farm in James Calata, where 546 cattle received vaccinations. The farm had earlier displayed suspected signs of FMD, prompting veterinary officials to collect five serum blood samples and two swab samples for laboratory analysis on 25 February 2026.
"The vaccination of cattle at this farm was important in helping to reduce the viral load within the herd, thereby limiting the potential spread of the FMD virus to surrounding farms and communities."
With thousands of animals still awaiting inoculation across the province, veterinary teams are expected to maintain their intensive schedule in the weeks ahead as authorities race to bring the outbreak under control.
South Africa's livestock sector supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and underpins rural livelihoods, making any uncontrolled FMD spread a serious threat to food security, export markets, and the broader agricultural economy. Prolonged outbreaks risk triggering trade bans from key international partners, which would devastate beef and dairy producers already under financial strain. If containment efforts maintain momentum, authorities may limit wider economic damage, though the scale of the provincial herd means sustained vigilance will be essential.
