Premier Alan Winde and Agriculture MEC Ivan Meyer have welcomed the signs of stabilisation in the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in the Western Cape, with no new cases reported in the past month.
The most recent case of FMD was identified on March 22, 2026, in Prospect Hill in the City of Cape Town. Since then, no new confirmed cases have been detected, marking a significant milestone in the province’s efforts to control the outbreak.
Intensified Vaccination Efforts
MEC Meyer highlighted that vaccination remains the cornerstone of the province’s disease control strategy, as clearly articulated in the Western Cape’s 21-point plan. The province will continue to actively engage with the national Department of Agriculture to ensure it receives its fair share of vaccines, so that it can act decisively to protect farmers and the wider agricultural economy.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, vaccination coverage is currently highest along the West Coast, with 63%, and the City of Cape Town with 56%, followed by the Cape Winelands with 35% and the Garden Route with 31%.
Vaccination Progress
No vaccinations have been required in the Central Karoo and Overberg districts, where no confirmed outbreaks have been recorded. Meanwhile, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Agriculture heard that while there are enough vaccines to manage the FMD outbreaks in the country, the Department of Agriculture is still unhappy with the progress being made to vaccinate cattle in the country.
As of April 17, there were 1 502 cases in the country, with the provincial breakdown as follows: the Western Cape has seen a significant decline in new cases, while other provinces continue to grapple with the outbreak. To date, four million doses of FMD vaccines have been received, with an order for two million doses expected to arrive in the country soon.
For more information on the FMD outbreak and vaccination efforts, visit the Wikipedia page on Foot and Mouth Disease or check the official government website for updates.
- Vaccination coverage: 63% along the West Coast, 56% in the City of Cape Town, 35% in the Cape Winelands, and 31% in the Garden Route
- No new cases reported in the Western Cape in the past month
- Four million doses of FMD vaccines received, with an order for two million doses expected to arrive soon
