Risk-based model for Foot-and-Mouth disease is inadequate!

There is no way we will overcome the foot-and-mouth disease virus with a risk-based model,” says Friedl von Maltitz, Vice President of Free State Agriculture (FSA). According to him, this model is designed for countries that are already foot-and-mouth disease-free and only experience isolated outbreaks – not for South Africa’s current situation.

Von Maltitz, who was sent to Argentina by FSA in February to study international vaccination structures, stresses that South Africa urgently needs to adopt a coordinated mass vaccination approach. “Countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Uruguay successfully managed their outbreaks through structured, zone-based vaccination campaigns. This involves rapidly vaccinating all livestock within a defined zone, followed by a booster dose within two to six weeks.”

He adds that systematic vaccination – moving from one side of a zone to the other – is essential to establish effective herd immunity against further spread.

The current approach in South Africa, which mainly targets only positive farms and surrounding areas, is, according to FSA, insufficient. “By the time state veterinarians reach affected farms, the virus has already spread further. There is simply not enough manpower among state and private veterinarians and animal health technicians to stay ahead of the outbreak curve.”

FSA is further of the view that the current allocation of vaccines – primarily to dairy, buffalo and pig producers, as well as feedlots – points to a fragmented and uncoordinated strategy that leaves too many gaps for the virus to continue spreading.

Meanwhile, Francois Wilken, President of Free State Agriculture, emphasises that the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) provides clear guidelines for mass vaccination programmes. “At this stage, there is no visible, structured national plan in place. With increased vaccine availability in the country, it is now critical that a comprehensive and coordinated strategy be implemented. No other country facing outbreaks of this scale relies on a risk-based model.”

FSA calls on authorities to urgently reassess the current strategy and implement an effective, science-based national vaccination plan to protect the country’s livestock industry.