The North West provincial government has vaccinated the vast majority of livestock earmarked for inoculation against Foot and Mouth Disease, with nearly nine out of every ten allocated doses now administered across the province.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, a total of 129,808 animals have received the vaccine from the 150,000 doses made available, placing the uptake rate at 86%. Officials described the figure as encouraging but stressed that significant ground still needs to be covered before every at-risk animal in the province is protected.
"The department confirms that 129,808 doses out of the 150,000 vaccines allocated have been administered, representing 86% usage. While this marks steady progress in the vaccination campaign against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), the department acknowledges that more work lies ahead to ensure full coverage across all affected areas."
Disease spread spans all four districts
The vaccination push comes as North West grapples with 210 confirmed FMD infections recorded across its municipal areas. Cattle account for the overwhelming bulk of positive cases at 206, while pigs have returned three confirmed infections and goats one.
The Dr Kenneth Kaunda District has borne the heaviest burden with 62 affected animals. Bojanala District follows closely at 59, while Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District has recorded 49 cases and Ngaka Modiri Molema District 40. The department noted that these numbers underscore how widely the disease has taken hold across both species and geographic areas, making ongoing vaccination and surveillance all the more critical.
"These figures highlight the spread of the disease across species and districts, reinforcing the urgency of continued vaccination and vigilance."
Fresh vaccine supplies on the horizon
Authorities have indicated that further consignments of vaccines are due to arrive shortly, which will enable the department to broaden its reach and bolster containment efforts. The current campaign is centred on inoculating animals that have tested positive, conducting ring vaccination around buffalo farming operations, safeguarding dairy herds, and carrying out mass vaccination of all cloven-hoofed livestock throughout the province.
Livestock owners have been urged to fit permanent ear-tags bearing unique identification numbers to their animals in order to accelerate the tracking and vaccination process. The department has also called on farmers and other agricultural stakeholders to alert local veterinarians or animal health technicians without delay should they suspect any signs of the disease. Swift reporting and collective cooperation, officials said, remain the most effective tools in curbing further transmission and shielding the province's farming economy.
North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Madoda Sambatha has publicly thanked farmers for their patience and willingness to work alongside government during what has been a demanding period for the sector.
South Africa's livestock sector, a critical employer and export earner, faces serious economic risk as FMD spreads across all four North West districts, threatening trade restrictions that could ripple beyond provincial borders. Emerging farmers and rural communities dependent on cattle sales stand to lose income if movement bans tighten. The arrival of fresh vaccine supplies will be pivotal in determining whether authorities can close the remaining coverage gap and prevent prolonged disruption to agricultural livelihoods.
