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South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak continues to escalate with the latest official figures showing 2,249 reported outbreak locations across the country. Of these, 2,211 remain active, while only 38 have been closed, highlighting the ongoing challenge facing the livestock sector and the national disease control programme.
The Free State remains the hardest-hit province, recording 591 outbreaks. The highest concentrations have been reported in Moqhaka, Ngwathe, Mafube and Metsimaholo, reinforcing the province’s position as the epicentre of the current outbreak.
North West has also recorded 358 outbreaks, followed closely by KwaZulu-Natal with 336. Gauteng and Mpumalanga have also experienced significant disease activity, reporting 275 and 247 outbreaks respectively, demonstrating how far the disease has spread beyond its original hotspots.
Particular concern has emerged in the Eastern Cape, where outbreaks have risen rapidly to 325. The largest clusters are concentrated in Amahlathi, Raymond Mhlaba, Ngquza Hill, Elundini and Enoch Mgijima, and this growing number of cases poses a serious threat to the province’s important beef and dairy industries.
Meanwhile, Kwazulu-Natal continues to face persistent disease pressure despite being one of the first provinces affected and a major focus of vaccination efforts. The highest numbers of outbreaks have been reported in Ulundi, Nongoma, Big 5 Hlabisa and uPhongolo, suggesting that the disease remains firmly established in parts of the province.
This outbreak has also spread across key livestock-producing regions and animal movement corridors. In Gauteng, the highest numbers of cases have been recorded in the City of Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, while Mpumalanga’s main hotspots include Dipaleseng, Steve Tshwete, Lekwa and Nkomazi. This widespread distribution continues to raise concerns about ongoing transmission.
In contrast, the Western Cape remains relatively contained with only 22 outbreaks reported, with most cases concentrated in Mossel Bay, the City of Cape Town, Drakenstein and Swartland. The Northern Cape has recorded 16 outbreaks only, while Limpopo currently stands at 79.
The latest figures underscore the extensive geographic spread of FMD across South Africa and this highlight the urgent need for sustained disease control measures to contain further transmission and protect the country’s livestock industry.
June 12, 2026/South Africa/
https://www.farmersweekly.co.za
