South Africa is facing its worst foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in history.

South Africa is facing its worst foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in history, with livestock across seven provinces affected, including pigs and cattle on commercial farms.

The government is rushing vaccines into the country and launching a decade-long vaccination campaign, but outbreaks continue to spread. Quarantines and strict biosecurity measures are in place, yet the crisis shows no immediate sign of slowing.

The economic impact is severe: meat prices are expected to surge, exports are disrupted, and the livestock industry faces tens of millions of rands in losses. Farmers and authorities are racing to contain this historic agricultural disaster, which threatens food security and livelihoods nationwide.