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Last reviewed:

Three phases to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis

The M. bovis Eradication Programme consists of 3 main eradication phases:

  1. delimiting
  2. provisional absence
  3. confidence of absence.
This image shows the 3 phases and our position (as of October 2023) in the delimiting phase. It will likely take 10 years (2028) before a Statement of Absence can be issued by WOAH. If the disease is found during later phases (provisional absence or confidence of absence), we'll need to return to the delimiting phase.
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Declaration statement to world authority

Once we have confidence of absence, our intention is to submit a declaration of freedom to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). We need to give strong supporting evidence of our declaration.

The background surveillance data gathered during the provisional absence and confidence of absence phases will form a key piece of evidence in this declaration.

Maintaining good on-farm biosecurity

The need to practice good biosecurity is imperative through all 3 phases (delimiting, provisional absence, and confidence of absence). If M. bovis is uncovered during either the provisional absence or confidence of absence phases the country would need to return to an earlier phase, which would increase the length of time required to eradicate the disease.

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