International Conference on Foot and Mouth Disease: The way towards global control

During the three days of the conference in Asunción, Paraguay, the current situation of FMD in the world will be assessed with specific reference to international, regional and national efforts that are applied to control FMD. The updated control methods of the disease, status of research on FMD, the application of disease surveillance methodologies; the application of and development of vaccines and the use, constraints and availability of diagnostic methods in susceptible species will all be assessed and evaluated against future needs and constraints. All these aspects will be presented by a selection of internationally recognised experts and debated by heads of veterinary services, veterinarians, scientists, researchers and trade representatives from countries all over the world.

All existing regional strategies which include regional specificities will be presented by key regional role players. The conditions for funding sub-regional and national programs will be explained by donor representatives.

The deliberations will be concluded by proposing recommendations for adoption by the delegates to mobilise governments, the international veterinary community, donors and all stakeholders to adopt a common commitment to start to move towards the global elimination of FMD from the livestock sector.

The OIE and FAO acknowledge with sincere appreciation the generous financial contribution and support by the Servicio Nacional de Calidad y Salud Animal (SENACSA) of Paraguay, the Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento of Brazil and the European Commission to make this conference possible.

The World Organisation for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization kindly invite you to attend this conference and to participate in the decision-making process to move towards the global eradication of foot and mouth disease.