Costa Rica and OIRSA
Since its creation in 1953, OIRSA has been supporting Costa Rica in the development of its national plans for plant health and animal health, as well as in addressing phytosanitary emergencies and biological pest control, yielding significant results for the agriculture and livestock sectors of this country.
Among the most relevant programs supported by OIRSA in Costa Rica, the following are mentioned:
Animal Health
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- The Accreditation Program for the National Animal Health Laboratory (LANASEVE), through which this laboratory was provided with a series of materials, laboratory equipment, kits, and reagents necessary for its proper functioning, allowing it to provide a quality service as required by ISO/IEC 17025. In addition, the accreditation process for LANASEVE addressed the need to qualify for accreditation.
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- The Strengthening Program for the Animal Health structure, through which, among other areas, the training and participation of officials from the Animal Health Directorate in international forums of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), Customs Union, international congresses, and national courses have been enhanced in topics that allowed improving the service.The Strengthening Program for the Animal Health structure, through which, among other areas, the training and participation of officials from the Animal Health Directorate in international forums of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), Customs Union, international congresses, and national courses have been enhanced in topics that allowed improving the service.
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- The Strengthening Program for Epidemiological Surveillance revitalized the country's epidemiological surveillance service through the training of 11 SENASA officials who participated in the Master's in Epidemiology.
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- Strengthening in the implementation of the tuberculosis program nationwide and initiation in declaring farms free of tuberculosis, contributing to the eradication program of the disease and improving national coverage in vaccination at the level of animals and farms attended.
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- Strengthening of the National Bovine Paralytic Rabies Prevention Program, which allowed the timely response to outbreaks of Bovine Rabies, preventing the spread of the disease and the economic losses it causes. Additionally, it avoided the transmission of rabies to humans, making a significant contribution to public health.
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- Facilitation of the control of animal movement within the country and determination of mobilization flows to demonstrate traceability and facilitate the control of animal diseases.
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- Timely attention to zoosanitary emergencies: Tuberculosis, Bovine Paralytic Rabies, Laryngotracheitis, and others.
- Strengthening the surveillance of Foot-and-Mouth Disease through the conduct of a drill involving officials from the Directorate of Animal Health, other related Ministries such as Public Security, state banks, and the private sector, aiming to update knowledge in the event of an emergency related to the disease.
Plant Health
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- The National Fruit Fly Eradication Program (genera Ceratitis and Anastrepha), which led to the approval of the request for Admissibility of Low Fruit Fly Prevalence Areas in Zarcero, Poás, and the Highlands of Cartago by the United States Department of Agriculture. This approval allows producers of chili and tomatoes from these areas to export these products to the United States.
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- The Coffee Borer Combat Program (Hypothenemus hampei), through which the pest entry was delayed by 12 years, prevented losses to the national coffee industry of approximately US$ 7 million per year during that period.
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- The Geographical Information Program supports phytosanitary measures in the country's coffee sector, through which 80% of coffee farms in Costa Rica have been georeferenced, enabling immediate action in case of a phytosanitary emergency and combating pests.
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- The Agropecuary Quarantine Support Program has prevented the entry of citrus leprosy (CiLV), a disease present in Panama.
- The Flying Locust Combat Program (Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons) has been in operation since 1947 in the region and has been supported by OIRSA since its inception. The pest is under control in the country, with low insect populations.
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Currently, the OIRSA Representation in Costa Rica continues to support and work in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in the campaign to control the Hibiscus Mealybug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green), classified under official control through biological control; the campaign to combat coffee rust (Hemileia vastatrix)The Bovine Traceability Program; quarantine and pre-shipment fumigation treatments for products; training in surveillance, diagnosis, agricultural quarantine, phytosanitary treatments, inspection, and others, as well as strengthening a regional agrosanitary system, with active participation from Costa Rica.