-as eradication efforts in the Americas continue
THE 52nd Ordinary Meeting of the South American Commission for the Fight Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA) will be held on 22–23 April 2026 at the Guyana Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana, within a regional context marked by historic advances toward the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) across the American continent.
According to the Pan American Organization (PAHO), the meeting will inaugurate the fourth Action Plan 2026–2030 of the Hemispheric Foot-and-Mouth Disease Eradication Program (PHEFA). Delegates will assess outcomes from the 2021–2025 cycle and set strategic directions to address emerging animal health challenges facing the region.
South America has achieved significant progress in FMD eradication, increasingly aligning its animal health status with that of Central America, North America, and the Caribbean—subregions recognised as FMD-free without vaccination, PAHO said.
It added that currently, nearly 80 per cent of cattle in the Americas are located in
territories certified as FMD-free without vaccination, a testament to strengthened regional
surveillance and control efforts.
This progress highlights the proximity of complete eradication and underscores the importance of bolstering regional cooperation, surveillance, and preparedness capacities, ensuring rapid response capabilities to safeguard and build on achievements attained throughout the Americas.
The 52nd Ordinary Meeting of COSALFA will bring together representatives from the 13 member countries—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela—comprising delegates from both the public and private sectors.
Discussions will focus on evaluating the results of the 2021–2025 Action Plan and harmonising
strategic guidance for 2026–2030 considering the evolving regional context.
The event will also provide a platform for experience-sharing between South America and the
Caribbean, promoting an integrated approach to transboundary risks and reinforcing public-private collaboration.
Meanwhile, the meeting will be preceded by the Pre-COSALFA International Seminar, which will be held virtually on 14 April 2026. Titled “Regional Preparedness and Strategic Decisions for the Use of Emergency Vaccination Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease,” the seminar will focus on emergency vaccination as a strategic regional tool for preparedness and response, with emphasis on the recent establishment of BANVACO, the Regional Foot-and-Mouth
Disease Antigen Bank.
The seminar will be broadcasted via the PANAFTOSA Zoom platform, with simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, PAHO said.
The 52nd Ordinary Meeting of COSALFA is organised by the Pan American Center for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health (PANAFTOSA/VPH) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), with the support of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, a
semi-autonomous agency attached to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Cooperative Republic of
Guyana, and leading national livestock organizations.
More Information visit the event page: https://www.paho.org/en/panaftosa/cosalfa-52
