Botswana to hand over FMD vaccines to Lesotho

BOTSWANA – Botswana is set to hand over Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines to Lesotho on August 19 as part of bilateral support to strengthen the neighbouring country’s response to the disease.

The government-owned Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) produced the vaccines, which Botswana’s Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin G. Dikoloti, will formally hand over in Maseru.

The support follows commitments made under the Botswana-Lesotho Binational Commission, where Botswana announced assistance of 100,000 doses of FMD vaccine to Lesotho.

Lesotho recorded its first confirmed FMD outbreak in February 2026 in Butha-Buthe District, prompting increased disease-control measures and regional cooperation. 

The country’s FMD-free status without vaccination was subsequently suspended following the outbreak.

BVI to provide technical support

The vaccine handover will be accompanied by a second BVI technical mission to Lesotho from August 19-20. 

BVI specialists will train veterinary officials on vaccine handling and administration, with the programme covering cold-chain management, storage, administration and field vaccination practices.

The mission builds on an earlier BVI deployment to Lesotho from March 9-14, which focused on disease surveillance, laboratory engagement and technical knowledge exchange. 

During that mission, BVI experts also supported local veterinary teams with disease-response training.

BVI previously confirmed that it would provide both vaccine supplies and technical expertise to support Lesotho’s FMD response. 

The institute has described regional cooperation in vaccine supply, veterinary expertise and disease control as important to protecting livestock, livelihoods, food security and trade.

The latest assistance comes as FMD continues to present a major animal-health challenge across Southern Africa. 

Botswana itself has recorded FMD outbreaks in several zones in 2026, while FMD-free status without vaccination has also been suspended in countries including Lesotho, Eswatini and parts of South Africa.

FMD is highly contagious and affects cloven-hoofed animals, and outbreaks can disrupt livestock production, animal movements, and trade. 

The World Organisation for Animal Health has highlighted the disease’s economic impact through production losses, costly control measures, movement restrictions, and loss of export markets.

The Botswana government said the vaccine support reflects the need for coordinated regional action against transboundary animal diseases. 

It also creates opportunities for further cooperation between the two countries in veterinary services, research and development, livestock production and agricultural trade.

The initiative follows broader efforts by Botswana and Lesotho to strengthen agricultural cooperation under their Binational Commission, including collaboration on animal health, disease surveillance, food security and trade.

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