South Africa’s efforts to contain and manage Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) have received a further boost with the arrival of two million vaccine doses from Dollvet in Turkey. The Department of Agriculture confirmed that this shipment is the first tranche of a larger six-million-dose order placed through their local agents, Dunevax, with distribution to provinces set to begin within days.
Further Vaccine Supply in the Pipeline
Building on this delivery, an order for an additional five million doses from Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina has been placed with Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP). These will be shipped in two batches—3.5 million and 1.5 million doses respectively—as soon as the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) approves the Section 21 application for importation.
Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, noted that the department has procured all matched vaccines currently available on the international market, ensuring a steady supply to support ongoing vaccination efforts.
Driving Toward FMD-Free Status
The vaccination campaign is aimed at achieving World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) recognition of FMD-free status with vaccination. This designation is essential for reopening international markets for South African red meat, which have been closed for decades due to FMD.
“We will push forward to make sure that we achieve our goal… This will allow us to access international markets for South African red meat,” Minister Steenhuisen said.
Targeted Provincial Allocation
A scientific, targeted allocation strategy is guiding the distribution, based on animal risk and population figures. The latest tranche of Dollvet vaccines will be distributed as follows:
- KwaZulu-Natal: 192,000 doses
- Free State: 182,400 doses
- North West: 182,400 doses
- Western Cape: 150,000 doses
- Limpopo: 150,000 doses
- Mpumalanga: 144,000 doses
- Eastern Cape: 135,400 doses
- Gauteng: 124,800 doses
- Northern Cape: 100,000 doses
Support for Key Industries
To ensure the continuity of the food supply chain, dedicated allocations have been set:
- Dairy Industry: 100,000 doses
- Feedlot Industry: 150,000 doses
- Pig Industry: 150,000 doses
- Emergency Reserve: 239,000 doses held for immediate deployment.
Progress Since Early 2026
Since February 2026, South Africa has received four million doses of FMD vaccines: 2.5 million from Biogénesis Bagó and 1.5 million from Dollvet. This is in addition to the two million doses imported in the last quarter of 2025. This consistent supply has already ensured the vaccination of 2.1 million animals nationally.
Regulatory Process Underway
On 10 April 2026, Minister Steenhuisen officially announced the intention to publish the Routine Vaccination Scheme for Foot and Mouth Disease (RVS-FMD) under Section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984. Public comments closed on 17 April 2026, and submissions are currently being evaluated before the final scheme is published.
Global Situation and Surveillance
The drive comes amid a challenging global landscape. Outbreaks have recently been reported in Greece, China, Israel, and Germany. Specifically, the SAT1 topotype 3 virus currently affecting South Africa has also been reported in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus, and Syria between late 2025 and early 2026.
Minister Steenhuisen emphasized that strengthened surveillance and faster reporting systems are critical to these efforts, allowing the department to capture data from provinces more quickly and work efficiently with the private sector.