Focus on Africa Foot and Mouth Disease threatens South Africa's livestock
Feb 10, 2026
Wendile Sitlobo, chief economist at AgriBees, explains where the foot-and-mouth outbreak is concentrated and its economic fallout for dairy and meat markets. Zainab Dury, anthropologist and textile expert, traces the kaftan’s history, Moroccan craftsmanship and the politics around UNESCO recognition. They discuss spread, containment, vaccination plans and heritage claims in concise, lively conversations.
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Widespread Multi-Strain Outbreak
- The current outbreak is centred in KwaZulu-Natal and involves multiple strains circulating across provinces.
- Eight of nine South African provinces report cases, making this outbreak unusually widespread.
People Spread The Virus
- Human movement and livestock transport are major drivers of the disease's rapid spread.
- Gaps in early detection and weak movement controls likely worsened transmission.
2024 Eastern Cape Containment
- Wendile recalls a 2024 outbreak in Eastern Cape that was contained locally around Humansdorp.
- That earlier containment contrasted with the wider, multi-province spread now.