The Pan American Center for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health (PANAFTOSA/VPH)
is a scientific and technical cooperation center of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) linked to the Department of Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health (CDE). PANAFTOSA is responsible for coordinating PAHO's Veterinary Public Health Program, working with: prevention, surveillance, and control of zoonoses; the promotion of initiatives to improve food safety systems and the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease, with the goal of promoting public health and regional socioeconomic development. The objective of this portal is to promote training and technical cooperation to different actors within the competences of PANAFTOSA/SPV-PAHO/WHO fostering the protection of human, animal and environmental health, under the One Health approach.
The Technical Areas
of Cooperation of the Pan American Center for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health
Foot and mouth disease
Cooperate with the countries of the Americas region, in the organization, development and strengthening of national and regional programs for the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease and mitigate the risk of reintroduction.
Food Safety
Support the countries of the Americas and the Caribbean Region, through technical-scientific cooperation based on international food standards (Codex Alimentarius and International Sanitary Regulations) to strengthen national systems and food safety.
Zoonosis
Provide technical-scientific cooperation for the development and strengthening of surveillance, prevention, control, and elimination programs for zoonotic diseases in the Americas, such as: Brucellosis, Equine Encephalitis, Sporotrichosis, West Nile Fever, Hydatidosis/Cystic Echinococcosis, Avian Influenza, Glanders, Rabies and Zoonotic Tuberculosis; and the strengthening of surveillance, prevention, care, and availability of antivenoms for poisoning by poisonous animals.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Work together with PAHO member countries to assess and prevent the risk of antimicrobial resistance with a One Health approach. Our organization supports countries in the formulation of their National Action Plans, as well as in different strategies linked to veterinary public health and integrated surveillance for the containment of AMR.
Reference Laboratory
Act as a regional reference for the diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease and vesicular stomatitis and quality control of the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine (WOAH) and collaborate with the countries in scientific and technical development to strengthen diagnostic capacity for vesicular diseases and zoonoses by promoting strategic alliances with official and private institutions for the development of research projects.
Production Laboratory
Support the countries of the Americas to train laboratory technicians in the use of quality in vitro diagnostic tools. The laboratory provides different kits for in vitro diagnosis, vaccine control, surveillance and epidemiological investigations for foot-and-mouth disease and differential diagnosis, in addition to the development of diagnostic kits for glanders.
Epidemiology
Support the design of epidemiological studies and data analysis, including prevalence studies, disease detection studies, risk factor analyses, spatial analyses, time series analyses, and validation of laboratory tests. Including training in the use of epidemiological tools, geographic information systems and establishment of quality criteria for information systems of official veterinary services.