Staff Correspondent

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku, MP, emphasized that sustainable financing, technical support, and strong regional cooperation among WOAH, FAO, and neighboring countries are essential to control and eradicate transboundary animal diseases such as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).

The State Minister made these remarks on Tuesday while speaking at a side event titled "Transforming Agrifood Systems through One Health and Prevention, Control, and Eradication of Transboundary Animal Diseases," organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) during the 'FAO Global Conference for Actions on One Health in Agrifood Systems' in Rome, Italy.

Highlighting Bangladesh's progress, State Minister Tuku stated that under WOAH's global strategy and the National Strategic Plan (2024–2028), nationwide PPR vaccination drives are underway, aiming for official disease-free status by 2030. In September 2025, Bangladesh formally submitted its PPR eradication dossier to WOAH after surveillance detected no active outbreaks. 

Warning against emerging global threats, the State Minister noted growing concerns over the SAT1 serotype of FMD. Although undetected in Bangladesh, risks remain due to cross-border livestock movements and holiday livestock trade. The panel session featured high-level delegates, including Tanzanian Prime Minister Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba, ministers from Chad, Cameroon, and Nigeria, Mongolian State Secretary Jambaltseren Tumur-Uya, alongside representatives from the African Union Commission and the European Union.