Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 29, 2025
Strengthening Regional Preparedness, a new foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) antigen bank has officially opened in the Americas, a major step forward in the ability to facilitate a rapid response to health emergencies.
The Regional Foot-and-Mouth Disease Antigen Bank (BANVACO), coordinated by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), is designed to ensure a steady, reliable supply of antigens and vaccines to quickly contain potential outbreaks of this highly contagious and economically devastating animal disease.
Major news Headlines:
* BANVACO Operational: The new antigen bank is officially in operation, marking a major milestone for regional animal health security.
* Rapid Response Network: The bank is a coordinated network of laboratories, not a single physical location, allowing for cost-effective and flexible responses.
* Protecting Economic Progress:
The initiative aims to protect FMD-free territories and the significant economic progress that has been made in the region through decades of eradication efforts.
* All-America Membership: All countries in the Americas are eligible to join BANVACO, regardless of their current FMD status.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a specialized agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), announced the official launch of BANVACO from its Pan American Center for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health (PANAFTOSA) in Rio de Janeiro.
This initiative addresses a long-standing recommendation from regional authorities, including the South American Commission for the Fight against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA). By creating a strategic reserve of frozen vaccine antigens, the new bank allows for the rapid formulation of finished vaccines in the event of an outbreak, a process that is far quicker than producing new vaccines from scratch.
This collaborative effort is a political and operational commitment from countries across the Americas. The FMD virus, while not a direct threat to human health, has severe economic consequences. An outbreak can lead to significant losses in meat and milk production, devaluation of animal products, and severe disruptions to international trade.
The new antigen bank is a crucial “insurance policy” against a potential outbreak, whether due to a re-emerging strain or an external threat.
The creation of BANVACO is a testament to the decades of work that have gone into eradicating FMD from much of the Americas. While some countries have achieved FMD-free status, the disease remains a constant threat, circulating in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
The new bank’s objective is to safeguard the progress achieved and protect the livelihoods of communities that depend on livestock. All countries in the Americas can join BANVACO, whether they are free of the disease with or without vaccination, ensuring a unified regional defense against this persistent and dangerous threat.
