January 23, 2024

Mexico-US commission affirms partnership to lower risk of diseases in North American livestock

The Mexico-US Commission for Prevention of Foot and Mouth Disease and Other Animal Exotic Diseases (CPA) have reaffirmed its commitment to maintain its technical-scientific partnership to reduce the risk of entry and spread of pests and diseases that could endanger livestock in the North American region.

During the presentation of the book "History of the CPA, 75 years after its creation", the General Director of Animal Health of the National Service of Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality (Senasica), Juan Gay Gutiérrez, highlighted that the commission represents the joint effort of both Mexico and the United States that protect their production to ensure food supply for their populations.

The group of veterinarians who founded the CPA faced many challenges, but their work forged the foundations of Mexican veterinary medicine. Cristóbal Zepeda and Peter Fernández shared their experience at the head of the commission during the 1990s and 2000s, a period in which Mexico dealt with sanitary emergencies, such as rabbit viral hemorrhagic fever, screwworm and classical swine fever.

In 2022, on the 75th anniversary of the commission, Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture instituted the National Reference Center for the Diagnosis and Research of Exotic and Emerging Diseases of Animals.

- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Mexico)