The spread of FMD to new areas is concerning, but consequences could be worse 

A serotype of foot and mouth disease (FMD) has been reported for the first time after 60 years in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, far beyond the region where it was first identified around 80 years ago. At the World Organisation for Animal Health, we are monitoring the situation closely, as every new FMD outbreak is not only a threat to animal health but also a reminder of the many ways in which animals and people are interconnected. To protect animal health, cooperation and prevention are essential: discover why. 

More than 6,600 kilometres separate the capitals of Cyprus, Lesotho and Mongolia. Yet in 2026, these three countries found themselves confronting the same challenge: the emergence of a serotype of foot and mouth disease (FMD) never detected in their territories before. 

Veterinarians and farmers have been dealing with FMD threats for decades around the world. Although the disease is rarely fatal, it is extremely contagious among animals and can have a major impact on their health and productivity. In some countries and regions, FMD has been successfully eradicated and, today, it is one of the few diseases for which WOAH recognises an official disease-free status, enabling countries to safely trade and export animals and animal products. 

The new serotype of FMD recently detected in several countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia has an interesting history. Known as SAT 1, which stands for Southern African Territories 1, it has historically been associated with southern Africa, where it was first identified in 1948. Despite being occasionally reported in some countries of the Middle East and of Europe between 1962-65 and 1969-70, SAT 1 has long been associated with Southern Africa. Since 2025, FMD SAT 1 has been increasingly detected in areas thousands of kilometres away from its traditional range, raising concerns over the last few months not only because of the distance it appears to have travelled in little time, but also because of the potentially significant impact it could have on animal health, livelihoods and economies. 

Monitoring the FMD spread closely  

Since February 2026, we have been monitoring the spread of FMD SAT 1 with particular attention. At the beginning of the year, an increase in outbreaks was reported in South Africa, while new notifications started to be submitted by Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In some cases, the outbreaks affected areas officially recognised as FMD-free and received significant media attention locally because of their impact on animal movements and livestock production. Although concerning, the presence of this serotype in the region was not unexpected given its historical association with southern Africa. 

The situation was different elsewhere. According to official data reported by WOAH Members through the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), Israel, Cyprus, Palestine, China and Mongolia all reported their first occurrence of FMD SAT 1 in 2026, in that chronological order. The same serotype had already been reported for the first time in Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt and Azerbaijan in 2025, also in chronological order of official notification to WOAH. After sixty years, SAT 1 was reported through WAHIS again in Türkiye, Lebanon and Greece between 2025 and 2026. 

The map shows the outbreaks of serotype SAT1 of foot and mouth disease reported through WAHIS since the beginning of 2025, as of 26 August 2026.

These data play a critical role in understanding the scale of the threat and helping countries and territories prepare for potential incursions of FMD.  

A range of preventive measures can be put in place, including enhanced biosecurity, vaccination, movement controls and border surveillance. Yet all of these actions require resources, and access to robust evidence makes it easier for governments and animal health authorities to justify and mobilise them in time. 

The impact of FMD on animals, people and economies

Foot and mouth disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed animals, without distinguishing between farmed and wild populations. Once the disease is detected in an area, trade in animals and animal products becomes severely restricted. Because FMD is highly contagious, preventing further spread becomes an immediate priority. This can have significant consequences for farmers and their livelihoods. However, the impact of FMD is not the same in every country. 

A recent assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) highlighted that the economic vulnerability associated with the incursion of FMD SAT 1 in Asia and the Pacific is unevenly distributed. While large and diversified economies are generally expected to absorb the resulting macroeconomic shocks, smaller livestock-dependent economies are far more vulnerable. In these countries, losses could reach up to 1% of GDP, while trade disruptions could generate costs equal to or greater than direct production losses. In the event of an FMD outbreak, the consequences could therefore extend beyond the livestock sector and escalate into an economy-wide crisis. 

Investing now, to prevent the worst  

At WOAH, we have been closely monitoring the spread of FMD SAT 1 because it is a clear example of how animal health is closely linked to livelihoods, economies and food security. As early as May 2026, foot and mouth disease was already a major concern for many animal health experts attending our General Session in Paris, which was dedicated to the importance of investing in animal health. On that occasion, Franck C.J. Berthe, senior agriculture specialist for Western and Central Africa at the World Bank, highlighted the need for investment in animal health, because: 

“FMD is estimated to cost farmers up to 21 billion dollars per year globally. Yet it is a disease that we theoretically know how to control. And I am not saying it is easy, but we have this knowledge. The tools exist, the financial structure exists, what is missing is the political will to scale knowledge and solutions”.  

The recent emergence of FMD SAT 1 is a cause of concern, but it can be managed. With the right preventive measures and sustained investment in animal health systems, its impact can be mitigated. As Franck C.J. Berthe noted:  “The next major shock may emerge from a livestock system, the health of which we have chosen not to invest in”.