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Santa Cruz de la Sierra, April 7, 2025 (PANAFTOSA – PAHO) – Two out of three cattle in South America are currently located in foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free zones where vaccination is not practiced. Across the entire Americas, more than 80% of cattle are in this condition, bringing the region closer to the eradication of the disease.
This progress is the result of a joint effort between the public and private sectors of the 13 member countries of the South American Commission for the Fight Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA), which meets annually under the secretariat of the Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center and Veterinary Public Health (PANAFTOSA) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The 51st ordinary meeting of COSALFA took place on April 3 and 4 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, a country that, along with Brazil, will receive recognition as FMD free country where vaccination is not practiced from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) in May.
“In May, Bolivia and Brazil will take a key step in the fight against FMD, a disease that has historically affected both rural communities and the economies of our countries. This is a proud moment for the Americas, a reminder of what we can achieve when we unite around a common goal,” said PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa in a video message shown during the meeting.
Advances toward FMD eradication
South America has gone from 35% to 65% of cattle in FMD free zones where vaccination is not practiced, following the inclusion of Bolivia and Brazil, which have stopped vaccinating across their entire national territories. FMD free zone or country where vaccination is not practiced means that countries have managed to eradicate the disease without relying on systematic vaccination of cattle, which reduces associated costs and improves competitiveness in international markets.
FMD has represented a long-standing threat to food security and the economies of countries in the Americas. Vaccinating cattle has been the primary strategy to control outbreaks and prevent new cases, enabling several countries to achieve eradication. Once the absence of virus transmission is confirmed and internal risks in a territory are eliminated, countries can suspend vaccination and maintain eradication without the need for ongoing vaccination.
The imminent recognition of Bolivia and Brazil as FMD free countries where vaccination is not practiced represents a milestone in the implementation of the Hemispheric Program for the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Eradication (PHEFA), which has promoted policies, strategies, and actions to eradicate the disease in the region since its creation.
A historic achievement for South America
PANAFTOSA Director Ottorino Cosivi highlighted: “This is a historic achievement for the region. Bolivia and Brazil have reached the end of the PHEFA. Now we must consolidate this success and continue progressing toward the eradication of the disease throughout South America.” Cosivi also emphasized that “public-private collaboration has been key in this process, and thanks to the technical cooperation of PAHO, we have transformed this region into a global model of animal health.”
During the COSALFA meeting, delegates from the 13 member countries also analyzed progress towards FMD eradication and established new strategies and actions to consolidate the achievements made. Since its creation in 1972, COSALFA has been a key mechanism for coordinating efforts among member countries in the fight against FMD, with most countries already free from the disease (with or without vaccination), except for Venezuela.
Progress on the creation of a regional FMD vaccine bank
In another significant step, Bolivia signed a protocol of intentions to begin the process of joining the Regional Antigen Bank (BANVACO), a mechanism aimed at ensuring the availability of FMD vaccines in case of outbreaks in FMD-free countries. With this signing, Bolivia will join Paraguay and Ecuador as a founding member of BANVACO.
Pre-COSALFA Seminar: Boosting Regional Cooperation
Prior to the COSALFA meeting, the Pre-COSALFA International Seminar was held on March 31 at FEXPOCRUZ, where international experts, authorities, and professionals from the livestock sector discussed progress in implementing the Third Action 2021-2025 Plan of the PHEFA and the opportunities and challenges Bolivia will face in maintaining its status as an FMD-free country without vaccination.
PAHO, through PANAFTOSA, continues working with member countries to consolidate the progress made and to definitively eradicate FMD from the Americas, protecting both animal health and the regional economy. The eradication of FMD is one of the goals of PAHO’s Initiative for the Elimination of Diseases.
