Mozambican authorities confirmed an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) on October 28 in the Moamba district of Maputo Province. This immediately prompted movement restrictions on cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs highlighting the virus’s devastating potential. This is far more than a local veterinary issue; FMD is a highly contagious Transboundary Animal Disease (TAD) that acts as a regional economic and food security threat. In nations like Mozambique, where agriculture and animal husbandry are central to livelihoods, such outbreaks demand a coordinated, cross-border response.
The recurrence of this outbreaks despite the 2023 goal to procure over one million vaccine doses for high-risk provinces, signals critical deficiencies in the system. The path to prevention requires urgent investment in veterinary infrastructure, including mobile labs and enhanced surveillance. This crisis raises critical questions for regional bodies like SADC and international donors: We must strengthen early detection through better training for Community Animal Health Workers (CAHW) and implement harmonized FMD control protocols across borders.
This outbreak is a stark reminder that animal health is public health. To turn this vulnerability into regional resilience, governments, world organizations, and the private sector must collaborate deeply. We recommend the establishment of Regional Vaccine Banks to facilitate emergency responses and the scaling up of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for vaccine distribution. The challenge in Moamba is a wake-up call for the entire region. Investing in robust, ransparent animal health systems today is the only way to safeguard the future of Southern Africa’s economy and food supply.
