The National Animal Health and Quality Service (Senacsa) has started activities for the 2026 National Seroepidemiological Survey, a study designed to demonstrate the absence of foot-and-mouth disease virus transmission and evaluate vaccination effectiveness in the country. The first week's actions take place from May 18 to 22.
Seventeen brigades, made up of veterinary technical professionals from the service and sanitary inspectors, have been deployed to carry out sample collection. Before the start, the first technical training stage was held with field teams, covering epidemiological principles, operational procedures, and biosafety standards.
"With these actions, we strengthen sanitary surveillance capacity and the maintenance of health standards nationwide," Senacsa highlighted. The activities cover the departments of Boquerón, Alto Paraguay, Presidente Hayes, Concepción, Amambay, and San Pedro.
Over four weeks, the institution plans to collect approximately 24,000 bovine samples and 300 small ruminant samples (sheep and goats) for the study demonstrating the absence of virus transmission, plus 6,048 bovine samples to assess vaccination effectiveness against the disease.
The studies are strategic requirements for Paraguay's recertification as a foot-and-mouth disease-free country with vaccination. Previously, a foot-and-mouth disease simulation was carried out under the technical coordination of the Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center (Panaftosa), with international observers from several countries in the region.
Víctor Maldonado, Senacsa's director-general of Animal Health, said the drills showed that the country has favorable technical, operational, and institutional conditions to handle foot-and-mouth disease-related health events, and also has essential materials and supplies for disease response.