Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed in kudu in the Addo Elephant Park

Foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in kudu in the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape, raising concerns about the potential spread of the virus to other wildlife and neighbouring livestock farms.

South African National Parks (SANParks) says follow-up tests confirmed the disease following an increase in cases of lameness among kudu.

SANParks Head of Communications JP Louw says the source of the infection and any possible links to other outbreaks in the province remain under investigation.

“The finding must be understood in the context of the broader foot-and-mouth disease situation in the province.

Positive results in kudu confirm the presence of the virus in animals in SANParks, but do not, on their own, establish the source of infection, the direction of transmission or a link between Addo Elephant National Park and any other outbreaks in the province.

These matters are being investigated by the relevant veterinary authorities.” Foot and Mouth Disease Detected in Kudu at Addo Elephant National Park South African National Parks (SANParks), working in coordination with the Department of Agriculture: Eastern Cape, confirms that a second set of diagnostic tests on samples collected from affected kudu in Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) has returned positive for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).

The Department of Agriculture (DoA) was notified after SANParks’ wildlife health surveillance detected an increase in lameness among kudu.

Although the initial tests were negative, follow-up investigation and testing confirmed FMD in kudu within the park.

At present, no other wildlife species in the park are showing clinical signs consistent with FMD: https://t.co/vIgN11ywcL — SANParks (@SANParks) October 13, 2026