37th UP Expert Lecture: Foot-and-mouth disease - A familiar foe in a formidable new form

The UP Expert Lecture Series provides a public platform for UP researchers to engage with a general audience on significant developments in their fields of expertise that are likely to have an impact in the future. We invite you to participate in our hour-long Expert Lecture Series and to be enriched and informed by the University of Pretoria’s research output.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) remains one of the most feared diseases of livestock globally, despite low mortality rates, the availability of vaccines, and more than 120 years of intensive research.

Global fears are driven by the devastating impact FMD has on high-production systems, the potential for rapid spread, and the establishment of a carrier state in recovered animals. The global trade bans that follow the declaration of an outbreak, along with restrictive disease control regulations, further compound the economic and social impacts of the disease.

This lecture explores recent transdisciplinary efforts to address the risks and regulatory impacts of SAT-type virus outbreaks in the livestock sector and emphasises the need for transboundary efforts to control a disease that does not recognise borders and demands decisive action.

Date: 08 April 2026
Time: 17:30 - 19:00
Venue: Future Africa, Hillcrest Campus, University of Pretoria, Pretoria
Cost: Free

More info: Future Africa is located on the Hillcrest Campus at the University of Pretoria.