WOAH enhances foot-and-mouth disease status web page for greater clarity

GLOBAL – The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has updated its official foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) status web page to provide clearer visibility for Members whose entire territories are recognised as free from the devastating livestock disease. 

The revision aims to improve accessibility, transparency, and recognition of countries’ disease-free achievements.

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, known for its blister-like sores that reduce productivity and disrupt trade.

While not a public health risk, it carries heavy economic consequences, with global losses estimated at over US$21 billion annually.

Highlighting national achievements
The revamped web page now features a dedicated section titled FMD-Free Members, bringing together all countries officially recognised by WOAH as free from FMD across their entire territory. 

Whether achieved through zonal control, nationwide vaccination, or without vaccination, these Members are now more prominently showcased.

Additional sections include FMD-Free Zones, listing Members with zonal recognition, and a directory of Members with an officially endorsed national control programme. 

The section on suspensions and reinstatements of FMD status remains unchanged and continues to provide the latest updates.

WOAH said the updates will “ensure proper visibility and recognition for Members’ efforts in controlling, preventing and eradicating FMD” while supporting transparent international trade in animals and animal products.

The information is now accessible in all three of the organisation’s official languages: English, French, and Spanish.

Disease still a global threat
Despite progress, FMD remains endemic in parts of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. 

In South Africa, it is spreading rapidly through its livestock industry, leaving farmers anxious and fearful as the number of outbreaks outpaces the country’s ability to vaccinate.

In 2025, Europe faced its worst outbreak since 2001, with Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia reporting multiple cases. 

Germany controlled a serotype O outbreak earlier this year through culling and vaccination, while Hungary and Slovakia battled a different serotype O strain that triggered stricter biosecurity measures and trade bans. 

In the Middle East, Iraq and Bahrain reported serotype SAT1 outbreaks, underscoring the virus’s ability to cross borders.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and WOAH continue to promote the Global FMD Control Strategy, which focuses on enhanced surveillance, vaccination, and stronger biosecurity.

FMD-free countries such as the United Kingdom enforce rigorous import controls to prevent incursions, as the virus can spread via contaminated feed, equipment, or even asymptomatic carriers.

While the disease rarely kills adult animals, young livestock are especially vulnerable, and recovered animals may carry the virus, making eradication difficult. 

Coordinated global efforts, including regional vaccine banks and early warning systems, remain vital to mitigating the economic and social consequences of the disease.

By improving its FMD status page, WOAH says it is reinforcing both transparency and recognition of Members’ progress, while continuing to highlight the challenges of eliminating one of the world’s most costly livestock diseases.

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