South Africa is grappling with its most severe foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemic in recent history. According to AllAfrica, recorded cases reached 32,000 in 2025, a sharp rise from fewer than 100 annual cases between 2014 and 2018 when infections were limited to areas near Kruger National Park. The outbreak has caused significant financial losses for farmers and hardship for workers. The crisis follows the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) withdrawing FMD-free status from most of the country in 2019, which severely disrupted cattle product export markets.
AllAfrica states that the reported statistics likely underestimate the epidemic's true scale. The publication notes that while the national herd comprises 12 to 14 million animals, the data suggests less than 0.3% were infected, a figure inconsistent with observed severity. "But we are sceptical of these statistics," the report states. This skepticism stems from the absence of a coordinated national response. The Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Council have failed to provide a central dashboard of reliable data. Consequently, industry bodies such as the Milk Producers Organisation and Buffalo Analytics have filled the void with fragmented information.
Data gaps are further exacerbated by farmer behavior and testing protocols. Facing quarantine threats, some farmers may underreport outbreaks or manage them privately. Authorities often only count a case if it yields a positive laboratory test, despite visible symptoms, meaning many sick animals go uncounted. Small-scale farmers, who manage roughly half the national stock, operate in informal environments where record-keeping is difficult. A 2022 government-commissioned report had previously highlighted a lack of leadership across the agricultural animal sector, a finding AllAfrica says has been confirmed by the current handling of the epidemic.
Despite data challenges, vaccination efforts have been widespread, with nearly all dairy cows receiving two doses. The epidemic appears to be receding due to mass vaccination, improved animal movement controls, and natural epidemic cycles. However, FMD remains endemic in the buffalo population, making eradication unlikely. The previous administration's restrictive vaccine policy led to legal battles and the dismissal of Agriculture Minister Johan Steenhuisen in July. Current Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp has adopted a more proactive approach, but AllAfrica warns that without sustained vaccination and reliable data, the country remains far from regaining WOAH status.