The Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has stepped up its support to Southern African countries responding to an escalating outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) across the SADC region.

In a media release issued on 23 January 2026, BVI acknowledged the scale of the outbreak and confirmed that it has activated technical deployments to assist affected countries. A technical mission has already been deployed to Eswatini to support local veterinary teams, with further deployments planned to other countries where recent FMD outbreaks have been reported.

According to BVI, the technical missions are focused on assessing the specific characteristics of outbreaks on the ground. This

includes evaluating circulating virus strains to inform appropriate response measures, particularly the formulation and supply of targeted, fit-for-purpose vaccines under emergency conditions.

The institute emphasised that regional cooperation and technical support are essential to limiting the spread of the disease, which poses a serious risk to livestock production, trade, and food security across Southern Africa. BVI urged livestock owners, industry stakeholders, and the public to strictly comply with disease control measures implemented by veterinary and regulatory authorities. These include animal movement restrictions, quarantine protocols, and other biosecurity measures designed to contain outbreaks.

BVI said adherence to these controls is critical to protecting national herds and preventing further regional transmission.

With more than four decades of experience, BVI is Africa’s leading veterinary vaccine manufacturer and research institute. The Institute has previously supported regional FMD control efforts through laboratory diagnostics and the supply of outbreak-specific vaccines during earlier crises.

BVI expressed confidence that, through coordinated action, technical expertise, and transparent communication, the region can mitigate the current FMD outbreak and strengthen long-term animal health resilience.