Finance · South Africa
Understanding the Challenges in Making Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine
Moneyweb · 2026/02/10
Summary
Dr Faith Peta, a chief research technician at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty of the Agricultural Research Council, explains the complex process of making a vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease (bek-en-klouseer). This disease affects livestock and can cause severe economic problems for farmers and the agriculture sector. Developing the vaccine involves extensive research, careful handling of the virus, and strict safety measures to ensure the vaccine is effective and safe for animals. The process takes time because scientists need to study how the virus spreads, how the immune system responds, and how to produce the vaccine in large quantities. This work is vital for protecting animals, securing farmers’ livelihoods, and supporting South Africa’s agricultural economy.
OnABudget takeaway: Understanding the complexity of vaccine production for foot-and-mouth disease highlights the importance of ongoing investment in agricultural research to protect livestock and support farmers, which benefits the wider economy and food security.