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The laboratory, which has already shipped its second batch of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine to South Africa, stands out for its global track record in supporting health responses. Here is an overview of its most notable cases.
In a context where foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) threatens South Africa’s livestock industry, expertise and speed are critical assets. In this scenario, Biogénesis Bagó emerges as one of the most prominent and innovative players. Taiwan, Argentina, Uruguay, South Korea, Indonesia, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq and Algeria are among the countries featured in the portfolio of FMD emergencies to which this Argentine laboratory has contributed over its more than 70 years of experience.
The company began developing FMD vaccines in the 1950s and is now positioned as a global leader in animal health, with an annual production of 350 million doses of its Bioaftogen. The numbers speak for themselves: Over 1.1 billion animals in 25 countries across four continents are protected by Biogénesis Bagó.
“At Biogénesis Bagó, we have extensive international experience responding to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) emergencies in Latin America, Asia and the Middle East,”company representatives stated. They emphasised that Biogénesis Bagó is currently one of the few companies capable of producing vaccines for all seven serotypes of the disease. Furthermore, it stands as the main supplier of antigen banks for Brazil and the United States, two of the world’s largest meat exporters. The company has also supported technology transfer in the Middle East and Asia, helping nations build supply chains and enhance health sovereignty with consistent quality standards
Experience in Argentina
The company has played a leading role in Argentina for many years, consistently conducting systematic vaccination campaigns against foot-and-mouth disease as a key part of its expertise.
In 2001, the suspension of vaccination and cattle smuggling led to a resurgence of foot-and-mouth disease, resulting in the loss of sanitary status, the closure of major international markets for Argentine beef, and significant losses for producers.
In this context, Biogénesis Bagó delivered over 120 million doses of vaccine in record time, enabling the massive outbreak to be controlled in just 11 months.
Also read: Joy as hardest hit KZN gets 200k doses of FMD vaccine
And Now, South Africa
According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), economic losses from foot-and-mouth disease in endemic regions range from USD 6.5 billion to USD 21 billion, putting the viability and sustainability of affected countries at risk.
Rapid response is considered essential for managing the virus, not only domestically but also in neighbouring countries that could face potential threats. “Our commitment to South Africa is to offer scientific expertise, industrial capabilities and epidemiological insight to facilitate the restoration of the nation’s sanitary status,” the company stated.
To date, the company has delivered 2.5 million doses of FMD vaccines and it will continue collaborating with local authorities and the South African farming sector, ensuring a steady supply of vaccines, technical support and its expertise in managing outbreaks.
Also watch: Millions of FMD vaccine doses on the way
