FMD: Research shows water disinfection could protect livestock

While foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to cast a long shadow over South Africa’s agricultural economy, experts now argue that a broader, more proactive biosecurity strategy with water sanitation at its core may hold the key to mitigating outbreaks before they begin.

FMD is jeopardising trade relations, disrupting rural livelihoods, and threatening the future of the livestock industry. Over 165 cases have emerged in KwaZulu-Natal alone.

This wave of infection has sparked alarm among farmers, government departments, and the wider agricultural sector, threatening not only local food security but also the viability of red meat exports.

Contaminated water sources

Douglas Spinas of Phend Pharma SA, an entity that specialises in conducting extensive research and development, said that while FMD response protocols centre largely on reactive vaccination drives and livestock movement control, these measures remain important. However, they may not be sufficient on their own to prevent future outbreaks.

“According to biosecurity experts, the prevailing model overlooks one critical transmission vector, which is water. Livestock consume significantly more water than feed, and their oral contact with water troughs provides a perfect opportunity for viral contamination.

“Once infected saliva enters the water supply, be it in troughs, ponds, or communal tanks, it can serve as a reservoir for viral spread, affecting entire herds and neighbouring farms through routine drinking,” he said.

According to Spinas, recent trials conducted through the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) have delivered promising results in addressing this challenge.

“Under controlled laboratory conditions simulating water-based transmission scenarios, Peroxsil, a silver-stabilised hydrogen peroxide disinfectant, demonstrated exceptional efficacy in neutralising foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) even in environments designed to reflect real-world agricultural use.

“What makes this testing truly remarkable is its novelty. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first and only test of its kind in Africa focused on evaluating a biocide’s effectiveness against the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) specifically in water,” he said.

A possible solution

Spinas emphasised that the research introduces a pivotal new perspective on one of the fundamental pillars of biosecurity. By expanding the focus to include water sanitation as a core preventive measure, it opens the door to a more comprehensive and proactive FMD management strategy.

Water is not just a medium for hydration; it is a potential vector for disease transmission, and now, it can be a line of defence.

“With farmers under increasing pressure from recurring outbreaks, many are calling for a more robust and layered approach. Biosecurity education and implementation, particularly at the grassroots level, must become as central to FMD control as vaccine distribution.

“The road ahead requires cooperation between government departments, veterinary bodies, researchers, and the farming community. While emergency vaccination campaigns may suppress outbreaks in the short term, a failure to address fundamental biosecurity gaps could allow the virus to re-emerge and circulate indefinitely,” he said.

Spinas added that a shift in thinking is needed. “We must move from a reactive to a proactive stance on animal health. Water disinfection, long ignored in FMD protocols, must now be recognised as a strategic priority.

“The South African livestock sector is resilient, but resilience needs reinforcement. By taking water seriously, we can help safeguard animals, secure exports, and support the livelihoods of thousands who depend on farming. It is not merely about treating disease, it is about preventing it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) laboratory results indicated that Peroxsil had demonstrated the ability to reduce foot-and-mouth disease virus when used.

“Peroxsil passed the disinfectant efficacy test against foot-and-mouth disease virus,” the OBP report stated.

Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.