“Two out of three cattle in South America are currently located in foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free zones where vaccination is not practiced. Across the entire Americas, more than 80% of cattle are in this condition, bringing the region closer to the eradication of the disease…
FMD free zone or country where vaccination is not practiced means that countries have managed to eradicate the disease without relying on systematic vaccination of cattle, which reduces associated costs and improves competitiveness in international markets.
FMD has represented a long-standing threat to food security and the economies of countries in the Americas. Vaccinating cattle has been the primary strategy to control outbreaks and prevent new cases, enabling several countries to achieve eradication. Once the absence of virus transmission is confirmed and internal risks in a territory are eliminated, countries can suspend vaccination and maintain eradication without the need for ongoing vaccination.”