SHIC global disease report: foot and mouth disease

The Swine Health Information Centre and University of Minnesota team up to provide the latest run down on foot and mouth (FMD) disease outbreaks throughout the global pig herd.
calendar icon 15 May 2019
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The SHIC and University of Minnesota present the latest outbreaks of FMD in South America as part of the Swine Disease Global Surveillance Report. The aim of the report is to have a support system for near real-time identification of hazards that will contribute to the mission of assessing risks to the industry and ultimately, early detect, identify, or prevent occurrence of events, in partnership with official agencies, and with our international network of collaborators.

South America

On 2-3 May, the 46th Ordinary Meeting of the South American Commission for the Fight Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA), was held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

In 2018, it was shown most clearly, the facts that shape the current situation FMD that characterises South America, facing the end of the Hemispheric Program for the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PHEFA) Action Plan 2011- 2020. On the one hand, the countries of the Southern Cone and Amazonian sub-regions have preserved their official status of FMD without the appearance of new cases and taken steps toward a transition to free status without vaccination. The appearance of new outbreaks in Colombia shows the persistence of the risk of cross-border transmission of FMD virus affecting bovine populations in the north of the Andean sub-region, which demands urgent attention and mobilisation of resources.

In this context, COSALFA 46, in accordance with its mandate, the regional countries analysed the current situation in accordance with the PHEFA Action Plan 2011-2020, and worked toward the adoption of resolutions to enhance regional technical cooperation to make progress in those territories which are not free from disease in order to mitigate the remaining risks of FMD virus infection, considering that multiple countries are transitioning to a status of free without vaccination.

Brazil

Once blighted by outbreaks of FMD, Brazil has not reported a case of FMD for more than 11 years, having the last outbreak being reported in 2006 in Mato Grosso do Sul.

The country got the official recognition of ‘free of FMD with vaccination status’ in 2018. Still, with the exception of Santa Catarina, however, all Brazilian states still use vaccination to maintain FMD-free status. Brazil’s National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Eradication and Prevention Program (PNEFA) ultimately aims to make the entire country FMD-free without the need for vaccination. For this, starting in 2017, Brazil is implementing the last phase of the FMD strategic plan of eradication, that includes vaccination withdrawal.

The Brazilian state of Paraná has been given the green light to stop vaccinating cattle against FMD beginning next November. The Department of Animal Health at the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry said it made the decision after audits showed the state had a strong system of controls on the movement of livestock and other farm goods. Beginning in October, the Ministry will determine restrictions on the entry of animals from neighbouring states, with the exception of Santa Catarina, which has long been recognised as free of FMD, without the need for vaccination. The rest of the states will withdraw vaccination following a gradual plan, which has divided Brazil in blocks of states with the goal to withdraw vaccination from the whole country by 2026.

The map shows the division of States by blocks
The map shows the division of States by blocks

© Ministry of Agriculture of Brazil, 2017

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