Welcome to COSALFA 49

The health situation and public health restrictions derived from COVID-19 are still hindering the possibility of holding the 49th Ordinary Meeting of the South American Commission for the Fight against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA) in person. In this context, the Director of the Pan-American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center of the Pan-American Health Organization (PANAFTOSA/PAHO) and the Executive Director of the Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control Agency (AGROCALIDAD) of Ecuador, as host country for the meeting, considered to summon the 49th COSALFA to be held online on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 August, 2022. 

On this occasion, the aim is to highlight the advance of the countries regarding the Action Plan 2021-2025 of the Hemispheric Program for the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PHEFA). Since its first action plan in 1988, the PHEFA has made a remarkable and solid progress, where the entire territory of the Americas, except for one country, has achieved and preserved the official status of foot-and-mouth disease free with or without vaccination granted by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

Now, it is necessary to review how countries prioritize their efforts to complete the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease, make the transition to the status of free without vaccination in those free zones and countries that still maintain systematic vaccination cycles in their bovine populations, and strengthen the prevention and response capacity of veterinary services. At the same time, the initial steps are being taken to constitute the Regional Antigen and Vaccine Bank, a key tool to complement the emergency response strategy of the countries. 

In this context, the COSALFA 49 will analyze the current situation of National Programs in agreement with the Action Plan 2021-2025 of the PHEFA and resolutions should be made for an effective regional technical cooperation in order to advance in the way to foot-and-mouth disease eradication in the continent by 2025 and its consolidation.

Previous to COSALFA 49, on August 23 - 24, the International Pre-COSALFA Seminar “In the context of free status without vaccination – The goal of the PHEFA 2021-2025” will be organized. 

The COSALFA 49 meeting and the Pre-COSALFA Seminar will be held via   Zoom Platform   and   PAHO’s YouTube channel  , with simultaneous translation into Spanish, Portuguese and English. 

The COSALFA is made up of 26 representatives from 13 countries of South America and Panama, with one representative of the public sector, the Official Veterinary Service Director, and one representative of the private sector, related to the most relevant union entity that, at national level, brings together livestock producers. The 13 member countries of the COSALFA are: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela and Uruguay.

The 49th COSALFA is promoted by the Pan American Center of Foot-and-Mouth Disease of the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PANAFTOSA-PAHO/WHO) with the support of the Government of Ecuador, through the Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control Agency (AGROCALIDAD).