Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreaks in South Africa Affect Six Provinces

According to South Africa's Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development, currently there are 146 open foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks from previously FMD-free zones in South Africa, with three outbreak events that started in May 2021. As a result, six provinces were impacted, including the North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the Free State, Limpopo, and Kwazulu-Natal. On August 18, 2022, the entire country was barred from moving cattle. However, from September 8, 2022, the ban was modified include sheep and goats and was constrained to the new disease management regions of KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the Free State.