South Africa's Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, John Steenhuisen, has published a draft routine vaccination scheme for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The publication comes ahead of a looming court deadline related to the government's management of the disease.
The draft scheme, published in the Government Gazette, outlines a proposed framework for the routine vaccination of cattle in high-risk areas. This represents a potential shift in strategy from a focus on stamping out outbreaks to incorporating preventative vaccination as a control measure.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. Outbreaks have significant economic consequences due to trade restrictions. The publication of the draft scheme initiates a public comment period, allowing stakeholders to provide input before a final policy is adopted.
