South Africa rolls out first homegrown foot-and-mouth vaccine in 20 years

South Africa has taken a major step in protecting its livestock with the production of the first locally made foot-and-mouth disease vaccine South Africahas taken a major step inprotecting its livestock with the production of the first locally madefoot-and-mouth diseasevaccine in 20 years. protecting its livestock with the production of the first locally madefoot-and-mouth diseasevaccine in 20 years. IOL reported that the country has beenbattling FMD for several months, prompting key trading partners, including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and China, to suspend imports of meat and related animal products from the country.

, prompting key trading partners, including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and China, to suspend imports of meat and related animal products from the country. The outbreak has led political parties and farming groups to call on the government to declare a national state of disaster. Last month,Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisensaid he supported the move and would request Cabinet approval.

In a press briefing on Friday, the Agricultural Research Council, together with the minister, announced the release of the first batch of locally produced vaccine and outlined plans to scale up production to protect herds across the country. The Council has produced an initial 12,900 doses, with weekly production expected to increase to 20,000 doses by March. Steenhuisen said the locally produced vaccine marks a significant milestone in South Africa’s fight against foot-and-mouth disease.

[paywall]

“This is the first time that we will be producing an FMD vaccine in almost 20 years. It’s been a long journey to get here, but we have arrived now at the point where South Africa will have a vaccine,” Steenhuisen said

[/paywall]