The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has confirmed 53 new cases of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), bringing the total number of confirmed outbreaks in the province to 344.
In a media release dated 13 February 2026, the department said new infections were recorded across multiple towns including Kroonstad, Viljoenskroon/Vredefort, Heilbron, Parys/Vredefort, Sasolburg/Deneysville, Cornelia/Frankfort/Villiers, Bethlehem, Reitz/Lindley, Vrede/Memel, Warden, QwaQwa/Harrismith, Bothaville, Marquard/Senekal, Edenburg, Bloemfontein and Boshof/Bultfontein.
Authorities say outbreaks have now been identified across fourteen local municipalities, with some areas reporting significantly higher case numbers than others.
Most Affected Areas
Among the hardest hit municipalities:
• Viljoenskroon/Vredefort (Moqhaka Municipality) has recorded 61 confirmed cases
• Parys/Vredefort (Ngwathe Municipality) stands at 49 cases
• Deneysville/Sasolburg (Metsimaholo Municipality) has 45 cases
• Cornelia/Frankfort/Villiers (Mafube Municipality) has 28 cases
Other affected towns include Kroonstad, Heilbron, Bethlehem, Reitz/Lindley, Vrede/Memel, Warden, QwaQwa/Harrismith, Odendaalsrus/Welkom/Ventersburg, Bothaville, Marquard/Senekal, Hlohlolwane (Clocolan), Rouxville, Edenburg, Bloemfontein and Boshof/Bultfontein.
Movement Restrictions and Quarantine Measures
The department confirmed that movement restrictions have been implemented on all farms within a 10-kilometre radius of infected premises.
Infected farms have been placed under quarantine. Surrounding farms have also been placed under precautionary quarantine while surveillance is conducted to determine the extent of the spread.
Officials say these measures are necessary to prevent further transmission of the highly contagious viral disease, which primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep and goats.
Concern Over Under-Reporting
The department expressed concern over what it described as an increase in farmers failing to report suspected FMD cases.
Authorities warned that failure to report suspected cases is not only a criminal offence but also undermines disease control efforts.
Accurate reporting is critical to planning vaccination campaigns. Officials said under-reporting distorts the disease picture and may result in vaccine shortages in specific areas, thereby delaying control measures and increasing the risk of further spread.
Legal Obligations of Farmers
Farmers have been reminded of their legal obligations under Section 11 of the Animal Diseases Act, which requires animal owners to take all reasonable steps to prevent the introduction and spread of controlled diseases.
The department urged farmers to immediately report any suspected cases to their nearest state veterinarian or animal health technician to enable prompt investigation.
Economic Implications
Foot-and-Mouth Disease poses serious economic risks to the livestock sector. Beyond direct animal health impacts, outbreaks can disrupt trade, limit movement of livestock and livestock products, and affect farmer incomes.
With confirmed cases now approaching 350 across the province, agricultural authorities face mounting pressure to contain the outbreak before it escalates further.
The department says surveillance and vaccination planning remain ongoing.
