As foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to threaten livestock production across Southern Africa, vaccination efforts along the South Africa-Botswana border are emerging as one of the region’s frontline defences against the spread of the virus.
In communities near border towns such as Zeerust, where livestock movement between neighbouring countries is a daily reality, authorities are intensifying vaccination campaigns and strengthening cooperation between farmers, veterinary officials and governments. The interventions are aimed at reducing infection rates, protecting food systems and limiting economic losses linked to outbreaks.
According to Hannes Lombard, farm manager of the Molelwane farm at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, the focus on border regions reflects the practical realities of managing a disease that moves easily across territories.
“While FMD vaccines are not 100% effective, they remain one of the most important tools for reducing infection rates and limiting the severity of outbreaks,” he says.
Areas such as Zeerust remain vulnerable because livestock movement between farming communities and neighbouring countries increases the possibility of transmission.
“In high-risk corridors such as Zeerust, widespread vaccination significantly reduces the probability of transmission, especially when combined with awareness campaigns that encourage farmer compliance,” says Hannes. “This reduces the overall viral load in the environment and helps protect both local and cross-border herds.”
Multipronged strategy to manage outbreaks
The vaccination drive forms part of South Africa’s broader strategy to manage outbreaks through coordinated prevention measures. Authorities have increasingly focused on expanding vaccine coverage, improving surveillance systems and strengthening response mechanisms in areas considered vulnerable to infection.
For Hannes, vaccination alone cannot contain the disease unless it is supported by consistent farm-level biosecurity measures.
“Strict movement control measures, regular surveillance and rapid reporting systems should complement vaccination,” he says. “Effective biosecurity practices are essential, such as quarantining newly introduced animals, disinfecting transport vehicles and monitoring communal grazing areas.”
He says farmers and livestock owners are central to the success of any intervention, particularly in rural communities where communal grazing and informal livestock trade are common.
“Long-term success depends on compliance at farm and community level,” Hannes says. “The way farmers manage animal movement and respond to outbreaks plays a major role in determining whether the disease spreads or is contained.”
Disease knows no borders
Hannes also stresses that regional collaboration between South Africa and Botswana is critical in limiting the spread of FMD.
“FMD does not respect borders, so harmonised vaccination schedules, shared surveillance data and joint response protocols are crucial,” he says. “These collaborative efforts build trust among stakeholders, strengthen regional resilience and ensure that interventions are sustainable beyond a single campaign.”
As Southern African countries continue to confront recurring outbreaks, the Zeerust vaccination intervention reflects a growing recognition that managing livestock diseases requires coordinated regional action, where governments, veterinary teams and farming communities work together to protect both animal health and agricultural economies.
Officials from South Africa and Botswana during the recent vaccination drive at the Botswana and South Africa border.
