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A worker shows the mouth of a cow at a cattle shop
The number of confirmed incidents of Foot and Mouth Disease in the Free State has risen to 17. The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development says there are nine new confirmed cases.
Department Spokesperson Moliehi Moeng says the province has four distinct outbreaks across three local municipalities namely Moqhaka, Metsimaholo and Mafube.
#FMDVaccinationDrive | 🐂💉 Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is more than an animal disease, it’s lost income, lost jobs & lost food security.
Farmers, by vaccinating & following regulations, you’re protecting your herds and your community’s future. 🌱🇿🇦#StopFMD #AnimalHealthMatters… pic.twitter.com/cSMZH5GxMJ— National Department of Agriculture (@DOAgov_ZA) September 5, 2025
Moeng says the department has prioritised vaccinations of livestock at farms.
The department says two communal grazing areas have been affected by the current outbreaks. It says that it is a challenge because controlling movement of vaccinated animals is more difficult due to shared grazing and a lack of adequate fencing in the area.
It says infected farms have been placed under quarantine and all farms within that radius have been notified and placed under precautionary quarantine until surveillance is completed to determine any further spread of the disease.
Foot and Mouth | Cattle Vaccination Campaign
