South Africa Launches First Locally Produced Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine in Two Decades

South Africa has announced the launch of its first locally produced foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in approximately 20 years, aiming to combat the severe outbreak currently affecting the country. According to Jin10, the South African government issued a statement on February 6, detailing the successful production of the initial batch of 12,900 doses using modern technology after halting production in 2005 due to outdated equipment and production techniques. The newly produced vaccines will be distributed across several provinces to bolster the frontline defense against the disease. The ongoing outbreak has significantly impacted local beef exports and the dairy industry.