DETECTING FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE (FMD)

Khuba Traders Guide for Eswatini Farmers

Early detection is one of the most powerful tools in beating FMD. The sooner you spot the signs and report them, the faster we can contain the disease and protect the national herd.

Key Signs to Look For in Cattle

Watch your animals daily for these common symptoms:

• Excessive salivation / drooling

  Animals may have foamy or stringy saliva and make smacking sounds with their lips.

• Blisters and sores

  Fluid-filled blisters on the tongue, gums, lips, inside the mouth, nostrils, teats (in cows), and between the hooves or around the coronary band.

• Lameness

  Reluctance to walk, limping, or standing with legs spread apart due to painful foot lesions.

• Fever

  High body temperature, often followed by depression and loss of appetite.

• Drop in milk production

  Sudden and significant reduction in lactating cows.

• Other signs

  Reduced feed intake, weight loss, and in severe cases (especially young animals), sudden death.

Sheep and goats often show milder signs, mainly lameness, so inspect them closely too.

What to Do If You Suspect FMD

1. Do not move any animals

This spreads the disease rapidly.

2. Isolate the affected animals

as much as possible.

3. Report immediately

Step-by-Step: How to Report FMD

1. Act immediately 

   Do not wait. FMD spreads very fast, and early reporting helps contain the outbreak quickly.

   
   

2. Report to the nearest local veterinary official (this is the main and fastest channel):

   • Go to your nearest diptank and inform the Veterinary Assistant or Diptank Assistant.

   • Contact the Agricultural Extension Officer or Veterinary Officer at your local Government Veterinary Clinic.

   • You can also inform a private veterinarian, who is required to report it to the government veterinary services.

     
     

3. What to tell them:

   • Location of the animals (exact farm/kraal/diptank area)

   • Number of animals affected

   • Symptoms observed (e.g. blisters in the mouth, on the feet or teats, lameness, excessive salivation, reluctance to move, drop in milk production)

   • When you first noticed the signs

     
     

4. Emergency option:

   • In urgent cases, you can also call the national emergency number 112 (toll-free) and ask them to connect you to Veterinary Services or the Ministry of Agriculture.

     
     

Important Tips

• Do not move any animals once you suspect FMD — this can spread the disease further.

• Keep people, vehicles, and other animals away from the suspected herd until veterinary officers arrive.

• Reporting is mandatory under Eswatini law for controlled animal diseases like FMD. Prompt reporting protects your neighbours and the entire national herd.

After you report, a veterinary team will usually visit quickly to inspect, take samples if needed, and advise on the next steps (quarantine, vaccination, disinfection, etc.).

Let’s Beat FMD!