Brazil Moves Towards Foot-and-Mouth Disease Free Status Without Vaccination

Within the framework of the 50th Ordinary Meeting of the South American Commission for the Fight against Foot and Mouth Disease (Cosalfa), held in Rio de Janeiro between April 25 and 26, the symptomatic vaccination of cattle was against carrying foot and mouth disease. out with part of the Secretariat of Agriculture of the State of Rio de Janeiro, which will carry out its last vaccination campaign against the disease at the end of April 2024.

Rio de Janeiro thus joins other states in Brazil that have already moved to foot-and-mouth disease status from vaccine-free to free without vaccination. A definite step to eliminate foot and mouth disease not only in the country, but in America as a whole.

It is worth remembering that at the end of March this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil made it official as free from foot and mouth disease without vaccination to the states of Amapá, Amazonas, Bahía, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão and Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Piauí, Río de Janeiro, Roraima, São Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins and the Federal District.

Through resolution ban on the marketing of foot and mouth vaccine in the 16 states included in the measure, as well as the Federal District, and the movement of cattle from them to the areas in Brazil that still carry out inoculation against foot and mouth disease has been prohibited mouth

“The ban on the movement of animals will remain in force until the World Organization for Animal Health (WHO) gives the international recognition of sanitary status free from foot and mouth disease without vaccination to all regions of the country,” the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock said at the time in a statement. (Read WITH livestock context: In Cosalfa they highlight Colombia’s commitment to the fight against foot and mouth disease)

The rules that come in effective May 2 Next, it is part of the “National Strategic Plan for the Study of Foot-and-Mouth Disease,” which aims to extend the foot-and-mouth disease-free status without vaccination to the entire territory of​​​​ in 2026.

Location of the area

At the Cosalfa meeting, a report on the situation of foot and mouth disease in South America and Panama in 2022 and 2023 was presented Through 2022 and 2023, the countries of the region, with the exception of Venezuela,. they confirmed their progress leaving behind the growing risk of foot and mouth disease, maintaining the free status with or without vaccination recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health (WHO).

The representative of Venezuela, Wilmer Calaza, gave a presentation with the work done by INSAI and the challenges to ensure that his country is free of foot and mouth disease by 2028. This Action Plan, which still requires the approval of the Minister the Agriculture of Venezuela, expected changes in vaccination cyclesby introducing an additional one for young animals (< 24 months) in the area of ​​the international border with Colombia and reducing the total two rounds from 60 to 45 days.

The representative also informed that they will be established 3 tips for free domains with different calendars and activities, where the insular area would seek recognition as free without vaccination and two other free areas with vaccination, gradually, between 2026 and 2028.

For his part, Uruguay clarified that right now no record is being discussed to withdraw vaccination. Therefore, there are no plans to transition from “vaccine-free” to “vaccine-free.” (Read in CONlivestock context: What did Fedegán ask from COSALFA at the last extraordinary meeting?)

In the case of Paraguay, a major restructuring of the official veterinary service is underway. After that, a roadmap will be established by consensus with the various actors involved in the livestock industry.

Colombia indicated that it has a project to change its annual vaccination cycles, including the provision of free zone without vaccination in 2026 which will cover 3 states.

Bolivia and Brazil which is in transition and they have a vision that countries will be free of the disease by 2025 or 2026, while Ecuador is working this year on a risk analysis to prepare its roadmap.

Argentina is in the process of internal discussion until change your quadrivalent vaccine for double. (Read in WITH livestock context: Cosalfa highlights high coverage of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine received by Fedegán-FNG)

Chile, Guyana, Panama, Peru and Suriname are free countries without a vaccine, where they work on prevention activities and prepare for a response. However, none of the 5 countries have access to it vaccine bank if necessary, as an additional tool to be used in cases of rebellion.

Therefore, it was pointed out that it is important to include criteria for monitoring and confirm early detection correction of weak points in the report or attention.