May 6, 2024

Brazil pushed for quicker conclusion of national FMD efforts

Brazil had sped up its foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination campaign as it aims to become completely free of FMD without vaccination by 2026.

Last month, the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) sent Circular Letter No. 28/2024 to the Brazilian states of Alagoas, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte, moving up the vaccination campaign to April, with the goal of completion by April 30, with no possibility of extension.

The decision was made by the Animal Health Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Defense after a meeting with the management team of the Strategic Plan of the National Program for the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PE-PNEFA) and an assessment of the technical conditions.

It is expected that an earlier vaccination, together with the other actions described in the PE-PNEFA, will result in sanitary progress, contributing to the recognition of the Brazilian territory as free of FMD without vaccination.

In addition to the five northeastern states, the states of Bahia, Maranhão, Pará, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Roraima, Sergipe and part of the state of Amazonas are also vaccinating for the last time by April 30.

- MAPA (Brazil)