The International Forum for Transboundary Animal Diseases and Food Safety (TAFS Forum), a Switzerland-based global platform that brings together stakeholders to address cross-border animal health threats, will host a crucial regional conference in Cape Town this month to tackle the growing challenge of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Southern Africa.
The TAFS Forum, which facilitates collaboration between governments, industry, international organisations and academia, focuses on developing practical, evidence-based solutions to protect animal health, livelihoods and global food security. The organisation’s multi-stakeholder approach has proven particularly valuable in addressing diseases that transcend borders and threaten livestock, trade and food systems.
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Regional Response to Rising Threat
The high-level conference will take place on 3 and 4 March at Blaauwberg Beach Hotel in Cape Town. The timing comes as the region faces mounting pressure from recent FMD outbreaks and increasing global disease risks that threaten both livestock health and food security.
“The conference represents a critical opportunity for regional coordination,” according to the event organisers. The gathering will bring together public and private sector stakeholders, veterinary authorities, international experts and farmers to address the multifaceted challenges posed by FMD in Southern Africa.
Comprehensive Approach to Disease Control
The two-day conference will cover a broad spectrum of FMD control strategies, including:
- Vaccination strategies tailored to regional conditions;
- Preparedness and surveillance systems to detect outbreaks early;
- Advanced diagnostics for rapid disease identification;
- Biosecurity measures to prevent disease spread;
- Outbreak reporting protocols for coordinated response;
- Risk assessment methodologies for targeted intervention; and
- Economic and food security impact analysis to understand broader implications.
The event will also focus heavily on regional coordination mechanisms and implementation strategies for long-term capacity building across Southern African countries.
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