North West province records first week without new Foot-and-Mouth Disease cases

The North West province in South Africa has recorded its first week without new cases of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) since December 2025. The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that this development suggests intensified vaccination and disease-control interventions are producing results.

As part of a mass provincial vaccination programme covering four districts and 18 local municipalities, authorities have administered 1,413,859 vaccine doses to animals out of 1,570,100 doses received. Madoda Sambatha, the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, noted the progress but urged farmers to maintain strict biosecurity measures and report suspected cases immediately.

The department plans to begin booster vaccinations in September 2026 for animals that have already received initial doses, while continuing to target unvaccinated areas.