By Tandzile Dlamini (Intern)
MBABANE – Livestock farmers in Eswatini are urged to remain alert following the confirmation of a Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in the Shiselweni region.
The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that the disease was reported at Sikhwebezi (762)Dip-tank in Mkhwakhweni, where farmers observed cattle limping and exhibiting lesions. Veterinary officials from the Department of Veterinary and Livestock Services responded quickly , and by 13 May, an investigative team was deployed. Clinical signs of FMD were observed in at least 20 cattle across multiple kraals, with samples collected for laboratory testing.
Local tests returned five positive results using the NSP ELISA method, while further confirmatory tests conducted at the WOAH Reference Laboratory in South Africa also came back positive.As part of its immediate emergency response, the Ministry enforced a quarantine across all dip-tanks in Hluthi and Lavumisa, and parts of Nhlangano sub-regions close to the Hluthi area. Following the confirmation, the movement of cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals in and out of these areas is strictly prohibited.
Acting Minister of Agriculture Bongani Nzima outlined the government’s multi-pronged containment strategy. This includes the establishment of Guard and Scheduled Areas in line with the Stock Disease Regulations, heightened biosecurity enforcement, and plans to vaccinate cattle within affected zones and involvement of key stakeholders, such as the police, who help enforce regulations and maintain order; NDMA, for logistical and financial support; local leadership, regional administration, and the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, among others, to ensure a united and effective national response.
“The Ministry has activated its FMD Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Plans. Investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of the spread, and additional support has been requested from local and international stakeholders,” Nzima said.Relevant international bodies and trade partners—including SADC, AU-IBAR, WOAH, and the EU—have also been formally notified. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has been approached to secure emergency funding, pending Cabinet approval.
The outbreak has resulted in Eswatini losing its official “FMD-Free Without Vaccination” status—a designation critical for international livestock trade. The Ministry emphasized that restoring this status will depend on swift containment, strict biosecurity, and cooperation from farmers.
While FMD does not pose a risk to human health, it spreads easily among livestock through direct contact or contaminated materials such as feed, footwear, and tools. Farmers are being urged to look out for symptoms such as drooling, fever, lameness, blisters, and sudden death in young animals.“Farmers must immediately report any suspected cases to veterinary authorities or the police,” Nzima stated. “We also appeal to the public not to move animals from or through the declared infected areas.”As the country works to contain the outbreak, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, stakeholder engagement, and safeguarding Eswatini’s agricultural sector.
