ANIMAL DISEASE OUTBREAKS IN SOUTH AMERICA: A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF NOTIFICATIONS (2025–2026)

Abstract

Animal disease outbreaks represent a major challenge for animal health, livestock production, and public health, particularly in the context of increasing intensification of production systems and the growing movement of animals and animal products. In this scenario, international animal health notification systems constitute essential tools for global epidemiological monitoring. The present study aimed to perform a descriptive analysis of animal disease outbreak notifications reported in South America between 2025 and 2026. This study is characterized as a documentary, retrospective research with a quantitative approach, based on secondary data obtained from the official database of the World Organisation for Animal Health. A total of 9 outbreak notifications were analyzed, distributed across six countries in the region, with Argentina and Chile accounting for 33.3% and 22.2% of the notifications, respectively. Among the diseases reported, Avian Influenza predominated, representing 55.6% of the outbreaks, followed by Equine Infectious Anemia (33.3%) and Newcastle Disease (11.1%). Overall, the sanitary events involved 30,051 susceptible animals, with 7 confirmed positive cases, 16,369 deaths, and 44,069 animals subjected to sanitary culling as a control measure. The findings highlight the importance of epidemiological surveillance and international disease reporting systems for monitoring animal health and strengthening disease prevention and control strategies in the region.