Scrutiny grows over KwaZulu-Natal’s FMD vaccination strategy

South Africa’s animal health authorities are facing increased scrutiny over their management of the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. There are renewed calls for samples of the country’s latest virus strains to be urgently submitted to an international reference laboratory to ensure that vaccines currently in use, including those imported from Botswana, are effective against circulating strains.

Experts have also stressed the importance of maintaining strict cold-chain and handling protocols throughout the national vaccination campaign to safeguard vaccine effectiveness. Concerns have been raised about the planning and execution of the vaccination rollout, with stakeholders calling for greater engagement with livestock owners and more flexibility in vaccine selection. It has been argued that farmers should be allowed to choose the most suitable vaccines for their animals, even if this requires private purchase. Warnings have also been issued over vaccine shortages, particularly for booster doses, following reports of animals becoming infected after receiving an initial vaccination without the required follow-up.

Industry observers caution that vaccination alone will not bring the outbreak under control. Robust biosecurity measures, effective movement restrictions and comprehensive livestock traceability systems remain critical, especially given the time required to vaccinate animals nationwide. In KwaZulu-Natal, concerns have been expressed about limited consultation with representative farming bodies, raising fears that inadequate stakeholder engagement and the politicisation of disease management could weaken the overall response and prolong the outbreak’s impact on the livestock sector.