Minister John Steenhuisen said the acquisition of 13.5 million doses in just four months demonstrates the seriousness with which the government is confronting this disease.
Agricultural organisations and industry leaders have welcomed the arrival of 3.5 million doses of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines, saying rapid vaccination is critical to containing the spread of the disease and protecting South Africa’s livestock industry.
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen last week announced that the latest shipment of Biogénesis Bagó vaccines is the largest single consignment of FMD vaccines ever imported into South Africa.
Steenhuisen said provinces must urgently accelerate frontline vaccination efforts to protect the country’s national herd of around 14 million cattle. He said the acquisition of 13.5 million doses in just four months demonstrates the seriousness with which the government is confronting this disease.
“If we maintain this disciplined and aggressive trajectory, and ensure these vaccines are administered rapidly and effectively, we can ensure that South Africa never again experiences outbreaks on this scale. But the government cannot do this alone,” he said.
