Overview of foot and mouth disease in southern Africa.

The prevalence of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the southern African subcontinent between 1931 and 1990 is summarised, together with the major features of the epidemiology and control of the disease. The author emphasises the role of wildlife, especially African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). A proposal is made for a more structured and co-operative approach to investigating the extent and nature of antigenic variation within the Southern African Territories (SAT) types of FMD virus. Quantification of the economic impact of FMD on the agro-economics of the subcontinent is attempted, and the importance of the social values of rural peoples in this respect is explained.