HAND, FOOT, AND MOUTH DISEASE: HOW IT IMPACTS US

Abygail Smit. 

@Abysmit06. 

 

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious viral infection that is common among children. The disease causes sores, called ulcers, inside or around the mouth, as well as a rash or blisters on the hands and feet. Although it can be very painful, the illness is not fatal.

 

HFMD may seem harmless, but the recent outbreak in South Africa has cost thousands of farmers their income, leading to a national crisis. China was South Africa’s third-largest external market for red meat in 2024. However, due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in late January, China banned South African red meat products, resulting in a 26% decline in beef exports.

 

According to a document released by SA News, the first batch of locally produced vaccines for FMD has been manufactured. The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, said, “The goal is to reclaim South Africa’s FMD (foot-and-mouth disease)-free status from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) by using locally produced vaccines through collaboration between government, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP).”

 

Minister Steenhuisen acknowledged the severe emotional and financial toll the current FMD outbreaks have taken on the agricultural community. “To our farmers who have watched their livelihoods disappear before their eyes, I hear you, and I feel the weight of this hardship with you. This has been a long, exhausting road, but I want you to know that help is not just coming; it is here.”

 

FMD does not only affect farmers and livestock, it also affects the entire economy. The cost of regaining disease-free status has been enormous for many families. The presence of FMD restricts access to lucrative international markets. It also affects travellers, such as international students, who may face strict biosecurity measures when crossing borders, including disinfecting their shoes and, in some cases, vehicles.

 

This disease also impacts aspiring farmers who are working towards owning their own cattle. Purchasing vaccines and covering the loss of animals and animal products is costly, especially for those starting out in the industry. Meat prices may also rise, which means students and households must adjust their budgets accordingly. In South Africa, many products are locally produced, and when one producer struggles, it has a ripple effect across entire communities.

 

FMD leaves both emotional and financial scars on those affected. It is hoped that the new vaccines will permanently resolve this issue, that the economy will recover, and, most importantly, that farmers will bounce back from this outbreak.

 

 

Edited by Simoné de Witt