A provincial mass vaccination campaign against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has been launched in Mpumalanga, as authorities intensify efforts to curb the spread of the highly contagious livestock disease that has severely affected the cattle industry.

The official launch took place at a communal livestock farm in Siyathemba Location, Balfour, within Dipaleseng Local Municipality, marking the beginning of a large-scale inoculation programme that will be rolled out to other districts across the province.

The start of the vaccination drive follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during the State of the Nation Address, where Foot and Mouth Disease was declared a national disaster due to its devastating impact on the cattle industry in several provinces.

Dipaleseng has been identified as the epicentre of the outbreak in Mpumalanga, with approximately 35 confirmed cases, while the wider Gert Sibande District has recorded about 149 confirmed outbreaks across its local municipalities.

More than 80 farmers from Balfour and surrounding areas, including Grootvlei, attended the launch. Farmers were urged to cooperate with government and veterinary services by preventing suspicious livestock movements, reporting any symptoms associated with FMD, and adhering strictly to animal movement restrictions and disease management measures.

Authorities have emphasised that close cooperation between farmers, veterinary services and local communities is essential to prevent further spread of the disease and to protect livelihoods that depend on the livestock sector.

The mass vaccination campaign will now be extended to other districts as more vaccine doses become available, forming part of a broader provincial strategy to contain and eventually eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease in Mpumalanga.