South Africa has initiated a comprehensive, 10-year campaign to vaccinate nearly 20 million cattle as part of efforts to combat a rapidly spreading outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). This highly contagious viral infection impacts ruminant livestock, particularly cattle, sheep, and goats, leading to severe symptoms including fever and mouth blisters. While FMD does not affect humans, its presence has significantly threatened the country's livestock industry and export markets.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen highlighted the devastating impact of the FMD outbreak, which started in 2021 and has affected most provinces, leaving farmers in distress. The situation is dire after South Africa lost its status as an FMD-free country in 2019, and farmers have faced numerous challenges since then. Many have voiced their struggles to cope with the economic and emotional toll the disease has inflicted on their livelihoods. Steenhuisen reaffirmed the government's commitment to addressing these concerns through the vaccination initiative.

The vaccination effort will be structured in four phases, with the South African government planning to procure vaccines from Argentina. The campaign aims to not only fight the current outbreak but also stabilize the livestock sector that is critical to both the economy and food security. By implementing this vaccination drive, the government seeks to restore farmers' confidence and protect their herds while aiming to eventually regain the long-lost FMD-free status of the nation.