Foot-and-Mouth

The five-day vaccination campaign targeted high-risk livestock areas along the Zimbabwe-Botswana border.

The minister stressed that the impact of FMD extends beyond animal health, affecting livestock productivity, market access and feed demand across the value chain.

Studies show that most infections occur within a limited radius, but indirect routes also contribute significantly to virus spread.

By early March 2026, the outbreak had spread across all provinces, affecting nearly 300,000 cattle and over 120,000 culled.

Zambian authorities say this precautionary measure will be reviewed based on how the outbreak in South Africa evolves.

Farmers in Eastern Cape say FMD keeps spreading fast, while authorities warn that poor vaccine control could worsen the crisis.