Soaring heat and heavy rain spark livestock disease fears

South Africa is on high alert as soaring temperatures and heavier rains heighten the threat of livestock diseases across provinces. This is prompting urgent action from farmers and authorities to curb outbreaks, identify hotspot regions, and implement effective disease-prevention strategies to safeguard the nation’s animal health and food security.

The season brings challenges such as African Swine Fever (ASF), which affects pigs year-round; lumpy skin disease(LSD) in cattle; bluetongue in sheep; foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) primarily affecting cloven-hoofed animals; and various tick-borne illnesses.

Ernest Makua, a livestock technical advisor at the Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), outlined the regions at increased risk for specific livestock diseases.

“The LSD is most prevalent in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal, while bluetongue is concentrated in KwaZulu‑Natal and Limpopo. These regions coincide with summer rainfall zones and high vector activity. Communal and commercial farms in these areas are most affected,” he explains.

Vaccination and control measures

Adding to these concerns, recent data from the department of agriculture shows that African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks in 2025 have been most in Gauteng, with 114 cases, followed by the Eastern Cape with 53.

“There is no effective vaccination or treatment available for ASF. Control measures are based on quarantine and movement controls,” the department stated.

Meanwhile, vaccination efforts continue against LSD and tick-borne diseases, complemented by vector control through insecticides, dip tanks, and habitat management – measures that, while effective when consistently applied, face challenges like coverage gaps and resistance.

“Mass vaccination and combined vector control have led to noticeable declines in LSD and other vector-borne diseases,” Makua said.

He further advised that farmers should prioritise vaccination and vector control for high-risk herds and seasons to maximise impact. Simple preventive measures and early detection reduce costs compared to outbreak losses. Cooperative programmes and strategic budgeting help spread costs while maintaining herd protection.

“I recommend subscribing to provincial veterinary alerts, monitoring rainfall and vector populations, and performing regular farm-level inspections. Early detection through outbreak mapping and communication with veterinarians allows timely interventions. Coordinated regional reporting helps farmers anticipate and manage outbreaks effectively,” Makua said.

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Partnering to tackle FMD

In a statement, Agri Western Cape said their collaboration with the Red Meat Producers Organisation Western Cape (RPO WC) and department of agriculture’s veterinary services to contain and eradicate the further spread of FMD in the Gouda area is continuing.

“All stakeholders are reminded that biosecurity is not a once-off action but a daily responsibility. The 10km biosecurity control zone remains in effect for as long as the area is under quarantine.

“Checkpoints have been established at strategic locations, and the public is being informed about the situation through various communication channels. Transporters are reminded to keep all required documentation on hand,” the organisation stated.

Agri Western Cape has urged producers to review and strengthen their own biosecurity measures and to report all animal movements in or out of the quarantine zone.

“In the coming days, the focus will remain on continued monitoring, strengthening of control points, and further awareness among producers and the public.

“We make a serious appeal to all livestock farmers to implement strict biosecurity measures on their farms and to follow all official protocols. This cooperation remains vital to effectively contain and ultimately eradicate the outbreak,” Agri Western Cape said.