Harare, (New Ziana) — The Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has stepped up regional support efforts as Southern Africa grapples with a surge in Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), a move that placing emphasis on coordinated action under the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
In a press statement released on Friday, BVI acknowledged the “scale of the current Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak within the SADC region,” warning that the rising incidence poses a serious threat to livestock production, trade and rural livelihoods across member states.
Responding to the growing demand for technical expertise, the Institute has activated emergency deployments to assist affected countries.
“As part of BVI’s Customer Value Proposition, technical support has been deployed to the region,” the statement said, noting that a technical mission has already been dispatched to Eswatini, with further deployments planned for other SADC countries reporting new outbreaks.
BVI said the missions are designed to strengthen national response capacities by working alongside local veterinary teams to assess outbreak patterns and severity. According to the Institute, this groundwork is essential in guiding response strategies, including the development of “targeted, fit-for-purpose vaccines under emergency conditions.”
The outbreak has once again highlighted the interconnected nature of animal health within SADC, where porous borders and shared grazing systems make unilateral responses ineffective.
BVI stressed that regional solidarity and technical coordination remain the most viable path to containing the disease.
“As the Institute joins the region in responding to the escalated FMD situation, stakeholders and the public are urged to adhere strictly to disease control measures instituted by veterinary and regulatory authorities,” BVI said.
These measures include movement restrictions, quarantine protocols and heightened biosecurity, which BVI described as “critical to effective outbreak containment and the protection of the livestock sector.”
With more than four decades of experience, BVI positions itself as a central pillar in SADC’s animal health architecture. The Institute is Africa’s leading veterinary vaccine manufacturer and research centre, with a track record of supporting regional FMD control through laboratory diagnostics and the timely supply of appropriate vaccines.
BVI expressed confidence that the region can overcome the current crisis.
“Through continued collaboration, technical rigor and transparent communication, the region is well positioned to mitigate the current outbreak and promote sustainable animal health,” the Institute said.
As SADC countries intensify surveillance and response efforts, the unfolding FMD situation is emerging as a test of regional cooperation—one in which institutions like BVI are playing a decisive role in safeguarding Southern Africa’s livestock economy.
New Ziana
