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Welcome to the COSALFA 41

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The 41^st Ordinary Meeting of the South American Commission for the Fight Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA) will be held on April 10-11, 2014 at the Hotel Sol de Oro in Lima, Peru.

In this opportunity, according to its mandate, COSALFA will evaluate the regional FMD current situation, the challenges and needs for the execution of the Action Plan 2011-2020 of the Hemispheric Program for the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PHEFA) in each country and in the whole Region, to maintain a sustainable and permanent FMD free status for populations of susceptible animals in the Americas.

The absence of FMD outbreaks across South America since 2012, indicates a favorable period in the fight against the disease in the Region. Beyond it just being a new situation, as a result of the efforts and cooperation of all countries together with the support of PANAFTOSA-PAHO/WHO, this period also represents a major turning point: with a large proportion of the surface and the herd being FMD free the region is now facing the challenges of (i) persisting in those areas that still need a final impulse to confirm the elimination of circulating virus, (ii) gaining international free status recognition for countries and areas not yet declared as such, and (iii) designing a common strategy for the withdrawal of the FMD vaccine over the medium term. These challenges require countries to exercise its role as a member of the COSALFA with great responsibility to ensure the commitment of working together and with solidarity.

COSALFA 41’s objective is addressed to the plenary of the countries, represented by their highest authorities in animal health, to review and define guidelines regarding the opportunities and challenges the region is facing, to maintain and expand the success achieved in this Region in relation to foot-and-mouth disease.

Prior to COSALFA 41, the International Seminar: “Risk-based surveillance: a tool to consolidate the status of FMD free” will be held on April 7-8 at the same venue. In this edition of the seminar, we are offering the opportunity to present, in a poster session, papers related to the subject, following the rules for papers submission.

COSALFA 41 is promoted by the Pan-American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center (PANAFTOSA)  of the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), with the support of the National Agricultural Health Service (SENASA)  of the Ministry of Agricultural, Livestock and Fisheries (MINAGRI)  of the Government of the Peru.

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