Botswana’s President, Advocate Duma Boko, pledged this week to donate 100,000 doses of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine to Lesotho. He announced this commitment at the first Bi-National Commission (BNC) meeting in Gaborone.
Lesotho first reported an FMD outbreak in February in Botha-Bothe, and there are growing concerns that the disease may have spread to other districts. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals, causing fever and painful blisters in the mouth and on the feet. Outbreaks can lead to significant production losses and disrupt regional and international trade in animals and animal products.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), FMD is caused by an Aphthovirus in the Picornaviridae family. There are seven serotypes—A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, and Asia1—and each serotype requires a specific vaccine to confer immunity.
Government spokesperson Boitelo Rabele welcomed Botswana’s donation, stating that the gesture “reflects the spirit of solidarity, friendship, and shared responsibility that continues to define the longstanding relationship between the two sister nations.” The statement added that the donation underscores the importance of regional cooperation in protecting livelihoods, agricultural production, and food security.
The government said it remains committed to working with stakeholders, farming communities, and regional partners to respond to the outbreak and safeguard the country’s livestock sector. Farmers have been urged to remain vigilant, report suspicious signs early, and support surveillance and containment efforts.