Maputo, Aug. 20, 2026 (Lusa) - More than 1 million doses of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine are set to arrive in Mozambique over the next 12 to 18 months to bolster protection for the cattle herd, the deputy national director of Animal Health and Biosecurity has announced.
«We have agreements in place for a further 1 million doses, which will be delivered in phases,» said Abel Chilundo, as quoted in the media on Thursday.
He added that this additional supply will ensure that animal vaccination needs are met for over a year, particularly in the provinces of Manica and Tete, in central Mozambique.
Despite the planned additional supply, Chilundo said the country currently has sufficient vaccines to maintain the immunisation campaign, thanks also to the receipt of 300,000 doses around two weeks ago.
«At present, we can say that we have a sufficient supply of vaccines,» he said, adding that the southern provinces of Gaza and Maputo have a «wide margin» of coverage, particularly in areas considered to be priorities.
According to the official, the purchase of new doses over the next 12 to 18 months will bolster vaccine availability, with delivery taking place in phases due to the manufacturer's production constraints.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals and can cause economic losses, reduced livestock productivity and restrictions on the trade in animals and animal products.
On 29 April, the government launched a national vaccination campaign expected to cover around 2.4 million cattle against foot-and-mouth disease and other diseases, to reduce risks to livestock production and food security.
On 1 June 2025, the government extended the campaign until July to accommodate the phased arrival of the vaccines. At the time, the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, Roberto Albino, also announced plans to boost domestic vaccine production.
The need to step up vaccination follows Mozambique's recording of 542 outbreaks of animal diseases in 2025, 63% more than the previous year, resulting in the deaths of around 25,000 cattle, according to official data released in April.
EYMZ/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
