The Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency (TVLA) has achieved remarkable success in vaccine production, manufacturing 63,641,885 doses of vaccines against seven priority livestock diseases during the 2025/2026 fiscal year. This represents 87.2% of the production target of 73 million doses and underscores Tanzania’s growing self-reliance in animal health security.

TVLA: Cornerstone of Animal Health

The Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency serves as the foundation of the country’s animal health system, providing diagnostic services, vaccine production, disease surveillance, and research support. Through its network of ten laboratories across Tanzania, TVLA enables early detection of animal diseases, rapid response to outbreaks, and certification of disease-free status for trade.

TVLA’s vaccine production capacity has grown significantly over recent years through investment in infrastructure, equipment, and technical expertise. The agency now produces vaccines for the most economically important livestock diseases affecting Tanzania’s cattle, small ruminants, and poultry.

Vaccine Production Achievement

During 2025/2026, TVLA produced vaccines against seven priority diseases, with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine comprising the largest share of production.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine (TEMEVAC I-2)

TVLA produced 59,384,000 doses of FMD vaccine (TEMEVAC I-2), representing 93% of total vaccine production. FMD remains one of the most significant constraints to livestock productivity and trade in Tanzania and across East Africa.

The disease affects cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs, causing fever, loss of appetite, and characteristic vesicles (blisters) in the mouth and on the feet. Whilst FMD rarely kills adult animals, it severely reduces productivity through weight loss, decreased milk production, and lameness. Young animals may die from the disease, and infected animals cannot be traded internationally.

Tanzania has experienced periodic FMD outbreaks affecting pastoralist communities and commercial livestock producers. The government has prioritised FMD control through mass vaccination campaigns, movement controls during outbreaks, and surveillance to detect new cases rapidly.

The large-scale production of FMD vaccine enables the Ministry to conduct vaccination campaigns covering millions of cattle and small ruminants in high-risk areas. Vaccination reduces disease incidence, protects livestock productivity, and creates disease-free zones that can access export markets.

Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) Vaccine

TVLA produced 3,500,400 doses of CBPP vaccine during 2025/2026. CBPP affects only cattle and is caused by bacteria (Mycoplasma mycoides) that infects the lungs, causing pneumonia, difficulty breathing, and often death.

The disease spreads through close contact between animals and can cause high mortality in susceptible populations. Tanzania has experienced CBPP outbreaks in pastoral areas where cattle concentrations are high and animal movements are frequent.

Vaccination provides effective protection against CBPP and forms the cornerstone of the national control programme. The government conducts annual vaccination campaigns in endemic areas to build herd immunity and prevent outbreaks. Movement controls complement vaccination by limiting spread from infected to disease-free areas.

Anthrax Vaccine

TVLA manufactured 358,000 doses of anthrax vaccine during the review period. Anthrax is a bacterial disease affecting all livestock species and humans, caused by Bacillus anthracis. The disease is often fatal in animals and can pose serious risks to human health through contact with infected carcasses or consumption of contaminated meat.

Anthrax occurs sporadically in Tanzania, often associated with specific environmental conditions including alkaline soils and flooding. Some areas experience recurring outbreaks during certain seasons. Vaccination of livestock in high-risk areas provides effective protection and reduces human health risks.

The vaccine is particularly important in areas with history of anthrax occurrence, where soil contamination with resistant bacterial spores creates ongoing risk. Proper disposal of anthrax carcasses (burning rather than burial) prevents environmental contamination and breaks the disease cycle.

Blackleg Vaccine (TECOBLAX)

TVLA produced 186,000 doses of combined anthrax and blackleg vaccine (TECOBLAX) during 2025/2026. Blackleg (Clostridium chauvoei) is a bacterial disease affecting primarily young cattle, causing acute illness with high mortality.

The disease typically strikes healthy, well-fed young animals, causing sudden death often without prior symptoms. Affected animals may show lameness and muscle swelling before death occurs within hours. Blackleg occurs in specific areas with contaminated soils, and vaccination provides reliable protection.

The combined anthrax-blackleg vaccine offers convenience for farmers and veterinary services, protecting against two important diseases with a single injection. This reduces labour and handling stress for animals whilst improving vaccination coverage.

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) Vaccine

TVLA manufactured 135,000 doses of vaccine against peste des petits ruminants (PPR), a viral disease affecting goats and sheep. PPR causes high fever, discharge from eyes and nose, pneumonia, and diarrhoea, with mortality rates often exceeding 70% in susceptible populations.

The disease has emerged as a major threat to small ruminant production in East Africa. Tanzania has experienced several PPR outbreaks in recent years, causing significant losses to pastoralist and smallholder farmers who depend on goats and sheep for livelihoods.

PPR vaccination provides strong, long-lasting immunity. The Ministry conducts vaccination campaigns in affected areas to control outbreaks and prevent spread to disease-free zones. Enhanced surveillance enables early detection of new cases and rapid vaccination responses to contain outbreaks.

Blackleg (Chambavu) Vaccine

In addition to the combined vaccine, TVLA produced 74,700 doses of standalone blackleg vaccine. This provides flexibility in vaccination programmes where anthrax risk is low but blackleg protection is needed.

Laboratory Diagnostic Services

TVLA’s ten laboratories distributed across Tanzania provide diagnostic services essential for disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and trade certification. During 2025/2026, the laboratories examined 63,440 samples for various animal diseases.

Disease Detection and Surveillance

Laboratory testing enables early detection of animal diseases, supporting rapid response to prevent spread. Samples from sick animals, dead livestock, and routine surveillance programmes are tested using modern diagnostic techniques including:

– Microscopy for parasites and bacteria

– Bacterial culture and identification

– Virus isolation and characterisation

– Serological tests for antibodies and antigens

– Molecular diagnostics (PCR) for specific pathogens

– Post-mortem examinations

The diseases identified through laboratory testing during 2025/2026 included:

– FMD and Newcastle disease in poultry, causing major production losses and trade restrictions

– African swine fever (ASF), which can cause 100% mortality in pig herds

– Anthrax, important for public health protection

– Abortion diseases (brucellosis and others), affecting productivity and human health

– Nagana (trypanosomiasis), transmitted by tsetse flies in affected areas

– East Coast fever, a tick-borne disease affecting cattle

– Theileriosis, another tick-borne disease

Diagnostic services inform disease control strategies, guide treatment decisions, and provide data for surveillance systems that track disease distribution and trends.

Export Certification

Laboratory services support Tanzania’s livestock and fisheries exports through health certification. Animals and animal products destined for export markets must be certified free from specific diseases.

TVLA laboratories test export animals and products to verify disease-free status, enabling Tanzania to access international markets. This role is particularly important for live animal exports to neighbouring countries and for fish exports to European Union and Middle Eastern markets.

As Tanzania expands export-oriented livestock and fisheries production, laboratory capacity for certification testing must grow correspondingly. The Ministry is investing in laboratory equipment and staff training to meet international testing standards.

Research and Development

TVLA conducts 13 research projects aimed at developing improved vaccines, diagnostic tests, and disease control strategies. Research priorities address practical challenges facing Tanzania’s livestock sector including:

Vaccine Development

TVLA is working to develop vaccines for additional diseases beyond the current seven-vaccine portfolio. Research focuses on diseases causing significant economic losses or limiting market access, including:

– Improved FMD vaccines providing broader protection against multiple virus strains

– Vaccines for poultry diseases including Marek’s disease and infectious bursal disease

– Rift Valley fever vaccine for livestock and human health protection

– Vaccines for emerging diseases threatening Tanzanian livestock

Diagnostic Test Development

Research aims to develop rapid, field-deployable diagnostic tests that enable quick disease detection without laboratory infrastructure. Such tests are particularly valuable in remote pastoral areas where laboratory access is limited.

Priorities include development of:

– Rapid tests for FMD, PPR, and other viral diseases

– Field-deployable tests for bacterial diseases including brucellosis

– Improved methods for parasitic disease diagnosis

– Validation of molecular diagnostic platforms for Tanzanian conditions

Disease Epidemiology

TVLA conducts epidemiological research to understand disease distribution, transmission patterns, and risk factors. This research informs targeted control strategies that focus resources on high-risk areas and populations.

Recent research has examined:

– FMD transmission dynamics in pastoral production systems

– Antimicrobial resistance in livestock bacteria

– Impact of climate change on disease patterns

– Economic costs of major livestock diseases

Capacity Building for Research Staff

TVLA invests in capacity building for its research staff through training programmes, attendance at scientific conferences, and collaboration with national and international research institutions. During 2025/2026, researchers received training in:

– Advanced molecular diagnostic techniques

– Vaccine production and quality control

– Epidemiological research methods

– Laboratory quality management systems

– Biosafety and biosecurity protocols

Enhanced research capacity enables TVLA to address emerging challenges and contribute to continental and global animal health initiatives.

Distribution and Vaccination Campaigns

Vaccine production is only valuable if vaccines reach target animals. The Ministry coordinates vaccine distribution and vaccination campaigns to ensure effective coverage of livestock populations.

Mass Vaccination Campaigns

The Ministry organises annual mass vaccination campaigns against priority diseases including FMD, CBPP, and PPR. These campaigns target pastoral areas with high livestock densities and endemic disease presence.

Campaigns involve coordination between central government, regional and district authorities, and veterinary service providers. Mobilisation efforts include radio announcements, extension worker outreach, and engagement with traditional leaders to encourage farmer participation.

During campaigns, vaccination teams travel to villages with cold chain equipment, vaccines, and supplies. Animals are gathered at central points (often livestock markets or community gathering areas) for vaccination. Each animal receives an identification mark indicating vaccination status.

Routine Vaccination Services

Beyond mass campaigns, routine vaccination services are provided through government veterinary offices, private practitioners, and community animal health workers. Farmers can access vaccines for their livestock throughout the year, with costs subsidised for scheduled diseases.

The Ministry maintains cold chain systems from TVLA production facilities through regional distribution centres to district veterinary offices and vaccination sites. Proper cold chain management ensures vaccine quality and effectiveness.

Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance

TVLA operates under strict quality management systems to ensure vaccines meet international standards for safety, efficacy, and stability. Quality assurance measures include:

– Good manufacturing practices (GMP) in production facilities

– Batch testing before release to verify potency and safety

– Stability testing to determine shelf life and storage requirements

– Post-marketing surveillance to monitor vaccine performance

– Regular equipment calibration and maintenance

– Staff training in quality procedures

TVLA seeks accreditation to international standards including ISO 17025 for laboratory testing and WHO/OIE standards for vaccine production. Accreditation provides confidence to domestic and international customers in TVLA’s products and services.

Animal Health Extension Services

Laboratory and vaccine production services complement field-based animal health extension provided by government veterinary officers, livestock field officers, and community animal health workers.

Extension services include:

– Disease surveillance: Reporting disease occurrences to trigger investigation and control

– Vaccination: Administering vaccines produced by TVLA

– Clinical services: Diagnosing and treating sick animals

– Advice: Providing guidance on disease prevention and animal husbandry

– Certification: Issuing health certificates for animal movements and sales

The Ministry has stationed veterinary personnel in all districts to provide frontline services. However, staff numbers remain inadequate for Tanzania’s extensive livestock populations and geographic coverage needs.

Community Animal Health Workers

To extend service reach, the Ministry trains community animal health workers (CAHWs) in pastoral and remote areas. CAHWs are livestock keepers selected by their communities for training in basic animal health practices.

CAHWs provide:

– Simple treatments for common conditions

– Vaccination services under supervision

– Early disease detection and reporting

– Extension advice to fellow herders

The CAHW approach brings basic services to areas where government veterinary staff cannot regularly visit. CAHWs bridge the gap between formal veterinary services and livestock keepers, improving animal health whilst generating income for the workers themselves.

Public Health Protection

Animal disease control protects human health as well as livestock productivity. Several livestock diseases can infect people (zoonoses), making animal health a public health priority.

Zoonotic Disease Surveillance

TVLA laboratories test for zoonotic diseases including:

– Anthrax, which can cause fatal human infections

– Brucellosis, causing fever and reproductive problems in people

– Rabies, almost always fatal once symptoms appear

– Rift Valley fever, which can cause serious human illness

– Tuberculosis, transmissible between cattle and people

Detection of these diseases in animals triggers public health responses including:

– Vaccination or elimination of affected animal populations

– Public awareness campaigns about transmission risks

– Coordination with human health services for case detection and treatment

– Investigation of potential human exposures

Food Safety

Laboratory services support food safety through testing of meat, milk, and fish for:

– Bacterial contamination

– Chemical residues from veterinary medicines

– Adulterants and preservatives

– Microbiological quality

These tests protect consumers whilst supporting compliance with food safety regulations and export market requirements.

Challenges and Future Directions

Despite strong performance, Tanzania’s animal health system faces challenges:

Coverage Gaps

Vast geographic coverage needs and limited staff mean some areas receive inadequate veterinary services. The Ministry is expanding CAHW programmes and exploring private sector veterinary service delivery to improve coverage.

Emerging Diseases

New and re-emerging diseases including African swine fever, lumpy skin disease, and Rift Valley fever threaten Tanzania’s livestock. Strengthened surveillance and rapid response capacity are essential to prevent major epidemics.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Inappropriate antibiotic use in livestock contributes to development of resistant bacteria that threaten animal and human health. The Ministry is implementing antimicrobial stewardship programmes to promote responsible drug use.

Laboratory Capacity

Additional investment in laboratory equipment, infrastructure, and trained personnel is needed to meet growing demand for diagnostic and certification services.

Investment Plans 2026/2027

The 2026/2027 budget includes significant investments in animal health:

– Expansion of TVLA vaccine production capacity

– Procurement of modern laboratory equipment

– Training of laboratory and veterinary personnel

– Strengthening disease surveillance systems

– Enhancement of cold chain infrastructure for vaccine distribution

– Support for research and development programmes

Conclusion

Tanzania’s investment in TVLA and animal health systems protects the country’s valuable livestock resources whilst supporting trade, food security, and public health. Production of 63.6 million vaccine doses represents substantial progress toward animal health security and self-reliance.

Continued investment in diagnostic capacity, research programmes, and service delivery systems will strengthen Tanzania’s ability to prevent and control livestock diseases. This foundation is essential for realising the livestock sector’s potential to drive economic growth and poverty reduction.

As Tanzania’s livestock populations and commercial production expand, animal health services must scale correspondingly. TVLA’s growing capacity and research programmes position the country to meet these challenges whilst contributing to regional and continental animal health initiatives.

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For more coverage of East African livestock development and animal health, visit Kilimokwanza.org.