LAVUMISA (23 JUNE 2025): Emergency vaccinations to clear the country of a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) disaster began this morning with Department of Veterinary Services teams moving onto the first five dipping tanks where FMD infected cattle will be treated.
This follows the delivery of a specially designed vaccine that is specifically aligned with the FMD variant that has erupted among cattle in Hluthi, Nhlangano and Lavumisa.
“They are in my hands right now, Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Roland Dlamini confirmed after collecting the vaccines at the KM3 International Airport at Sikhuphe on Saturday.
The vaccines were flown into the country from Botswana, the only SADC country with the laboratory for FMD vaccines.
Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Sidney Simelane who was on the spot at the start of the vaccination this morning assured that they have enough vaccines for all animals within the red zone. Vaccinated animals are branded with a hot iron. Dr. Dlamini said the animals will be observed for 30 days then revaccinated to ensure they eradicate the disease in their system.
FMD will hit the economy hard. Lavumisa is one of the nation’s main cattle breeding regions that support the beef export industry with high quality beasts.
The vaccination is part of a strategy for eliminating FMD currently confined under lockdown in a Red Zone where zero movement of animals in or out of the FMD declared area.
Last week Prime Minister Russell Dlamini toured the FMD disaster area, visiting several checkpoints placed on roads along the red line that starts on the South Africa-Eswatini border fence just west of Mkhwakhweni South of Hlutsi across the Nhlangano to Lavumisa bordercutting just north of Qomintable to the Big Bend to Lavumisa road before cutting back to the border fence at a point just west of the Lavumisa border.
The checkpoints are manned by a multi-dicsiplinary team that includes police, National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and army personnel supporting the Department of Veterinary Services.
Following the outbreak, Eswatini lost her official status as “A Country Free of FMD without Vaccination’’. FMD outbreak has a significant bearing on trade in livestock and livestock products. Director of Veterinary Services however assured that the speed and success of controls, proof of no new infections and definition of zones/compartments are central to restoration of trade.
“This disease is a threat to the country’s economy as it hampers our beef exports, and could, over time, result in job losses. We urge all emaSwati to refrain from illegally transporting livestock, meat, or plants across regions,” the Prime Minister said during his tour, underlining effect of the FMD on national beef exports, especially to the European Union where Norway is a key market for grass-fed deboned Eswatini beef.
Earlier in June, Government released E40 million for an emergency response to control the epidemic from spreading further east of the red line.
FMD entered Eswatini in May when the first infection of two animals were reported on the 12th May 2025 at Sikhwebezi (762) Dip-tank in Mkhwakhweni. The Department of Veterinary and Livestock Services under Shiselweni Region went to inspect and found two animals limping with suspicious lesions. Four other animals were reported by farmers to also be limping from the same dip-tank. This case was reported to the Director of Veterinary Services in accordance to legislation who commissioned an investigative team on the 13th May 2025.
Further investigation which included mouthing of cattle at Sikhwebezi (762) Dip-tank revealed 4 animals with FMD suspicious lesions on the hooves, tongue and gums in five kraals investigated. Visual inspection was then done on all other kraals and more than 20 animals were seen limping. 8 blood samples and 2 tissue samples were collected from this dipping tank investigation on the day.
Following the initial epidemiological analysis of the situation all the dip-tanks under Hluthi Sub-region were immediately put under quarantine (standstill) which was extended to include all Lavumisa diptanks and some Nhlangano Diptanks (those adjacent to Hluti sub region).
FMD does NOT infect humans. It is spread through sick animals, contaminated meat/milk, dirty tools, shoes, vehicles, animal feed, shared equipment or sheds.
The Ministry of Agriculture has cautioned farmers to stay alert for signs of drooling, blisters, lameness, fever, sudden death in young animals and to immediately report any sick animals to veterinary officials, or police.
Meanwhile, to prevent the spread of the disease, there is a standing appeal for farmers not to move animals including cattle, pigs, sheep, pigs and cloven hoofed wild animals out of a designated quarantine or guard (infected) area.
