New sanitary status in the Americas

On 25 May during the 90th General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates, several Members obtained official recognition of their animal health status for their entire territory or specific zones in 2022. Among them, we can highlight two Members from the Americas:

• Colombia was declared free of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP);
• A zone in Colombia was declared free of foot and mouth disease (FMD) with vaccination;
• A zone in Bolivia was declared free of foot and mouth disease (FMD) without vaccination; For Bolivia, the entire territory is free of FMD and this recognition is an extension of the areas where vaccination is no longer practised.

WOAH Members can apply for the official recognition of animal health status for six priority diseases on a voluntary basis. Such recognition is key to supporting national livestock economies, as it plays an important role in facilitating regional and international trade of animals and their products.

We congratulate both countries for their continued efforts to improve animal health in the region.