International animal health authorities have issued urgent warnings after a historically African strain of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) spread into parts of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, raising concerns about economic fallout and weaknesses in global preparedness.

A joint alert issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on 15 April confirmed that the SAT1 FMD serotype has spread beyond its traditional sub-Saharan African range.

The warning is supported by analysis from BEACON, a global animal disease intelligence platform based at Boston University’s Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases in the US. The programme combines official reports, open-source data and real-time signals to track outbreaks and identify emerging risks, adding an early-warning layer to formal reporting systems.

Unprecedented geographic spread

SAT1 outbreaks have been reported in parts of Southern Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Greece, Türkiye, Israel, China, and Vietnam.

This marks a significant epidemiological shift, as the serotype was historically confined to sub-Saharan Africa, and its spread into livestock populations with little prior exposure has resulted in more severe outbreaks and increased production losses.

China outbreak signals elevated risk

The detection of SAT1 in China highlights the scale of the threat. In early April, authorities confirmed 219 cases in cattle across two establishments in Gansu province and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, with more than 6 000 animals potentially exposed.

The outbreak comes against a backdrop of China’s previously stable FMD profile, which has been dominated by serotypes O and A. Existing domestic vaccines do not provide cross-protection against SAT1, leaving a significant immunity gap.

Authorities have implemented culling and disinfection measures. However, the location of the outbreaks along the country’s key livestock trade corridors raises concerns about further spread if not contained quickly.