1st Meeting of the Standing Group of Experts on Screwworm of GF-TADs for the Americas

On April 29, the 1st Meeting of the Permanent Group of Experts on Screwworm of the GF-TADs of the Americas was held virtually. 

Context

New World Screwworm is a significant zoonotic disease in the Americas, which has regained importance after the reinfestation of Central America since October 2023. 

During the 18th Meeting of the Regional Steering Committee for the Americas, held in October 2024, the establishment of a Standing Group of Experts (SGE) dedicated to this disease was agreed upon, where international, regional, and subregional organisations committed to working synergistically under the GF-TADs framework. 

Meeting objectives

• Validate the operational dynamics and coordination of the experts group. 
• Analyse intervention measures to prioritise those that need further strengthening in addition to ongoing actions carried out by regional and national agencies. 
• Promote the establishment of a coordinated action plan with short, medium, and long-term goals for both the reinfested Central American region and the historically endemic zone. 
• Agree on upcoming actions and specific support to be provided by participating institutions. 

Who participated

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Regional Commission, the Council, and the board, as well as international and regional organisations and agencies involved in the control strategies for screwworm, such as: OIRSA, FAO, IICA, AIEA, and COPEG, as well as representatives from the private sector. 

More information

Agenda

Recording Access code: WOAH042925! 

Acronims: 

OIRSA, International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health

FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

IICA, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency

COPEG, Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication of the Cattle Screwworm

CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CVP, Permanent Veterinary Committee of the Southern Cone

CAHFSA, Caribbean Agriculture, Health and Food Safety Agency