Botswana Vaccine Institute supports regional response to FMD outbreak

23 January 2026 – The Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has reaffirmed its commitment to regional animal health as Southern Africa faces an escalating Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak across several SADC member states.

Acknowledging the scale and urgency of the situation in a press release, BVI says it has activated technical support deployments as part of its customer value proposition and long-standing role in regional disease control. A technical mission has already been deployed to Eswatini to support local veterinary teams, with further deployments planned to other affected countries where FMD outbreaks have recently been reported.

According to the Institute, these technical missions are critical in assessing the nature and spread of FMD outbreaks, enabling informed response interventions. This includes the formulation and supply of targeted, fit-for-purpose emergency vaccines to support containment efforts.

As regional authorities respond to the outbreak, the BVI has urged stakeholders and the public to strictly comply with disease control measures imposed by veterinary and regulatory authorities. These include livestock movement restrictions and quarantine protocols, which remain essential to containing the disease and protecting the livestock sector.

BVI expressed confidence that through continued collaboration, technical expertise, and transparent communication, the region is well-positioned to mitigate the current outbreak and strengthen long-term animal health resilience.

With more than 40 years of experience, BVI is Africa’s leading veterinary vaccine manufacturer and research institute. The Institute has a proven track record in supporting regional FMD control, having successfully managed previous outbreaks through laboratory diagnostics and the supply of specialised vaccines.