Southern African nations strengthen joint response to Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

‎Mozambique has intensified efforts to curb the spread of Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) by expanding its national vaccination campaign, with authorities targeting around 2.4 million livestock under broader protection measures supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The move comes amid rising concern over cross-border disease transmission across Southern Africa.

‎The joint intervention formed part of a mass vaccination outreach programme led by South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture in mpumalanga, an area in South Africa heavily affected by recurring FMD outbreaks in recent months and was also joined by the representative of Mozambique and Eswatini.

‎The representative of the three countries agreed on the need to identify areas where they can collaborate in the region in order to manage the FMD outbreak effectively and areas that were identified includes the vaccination programme, vaccine production, sanitary control system, veterinary coordination, and stock theft prevention.

‎Agricultural experts also warns that climate variability, porous borders, illegal livestock movement and ageing veterinary infrastructure are making disease management increasingly challenging in the region as FMD remains one of the most economically damaging livestock diseases globally because of its impact on trade, meat exports and animal movement.

‎While the disease poses no direct threat to human health, outbreaks often lead to substantial economic losses for both farmers and governments. As a result, stronger cooperation among Eswatini, South Africa and Mozambique reflects a wider regional shift towards coordinated disease control efforts aimed at protecting food security, rural livelihoods and agricultural exports from recurring livestock outbreaks.

Minister Tshawuka shakes hands with Mozambique’s Dr Abel Gonçalo Chilundo.
Photocredit: agribusinessmedia