Today, Wednesday, July 10, COPEG’s General Directors, Dr. Carlos Moreno representing Panama and Dr. Celia Antognoli representing the United States, had the honor of welcoming the Minister of Agricultural Development (MIDA), Mr. Roberto Linares. The Minister was accompanied by the Vice Minister, Mr. Francisco Ameglio, the Secretary General, Ms. Carlota Mattos, and their team. The [...]

From March 14 to 24, the #TeamCOPEG was present at the 67th International Fair of David, with the support of MIDA’s Livestock Committee, which provided us a space in the animal health area to promote our campaign against the Screwworm (GBG). We delivered prevention messages and sanitary best practices to show the public that through [...]

The Panamanian Association of Dairy Cattle Producers (APROGALPA) held its 27th Congress, titled “Latin American Meeting of Dairy Breed Producers and Crossbreeds for Sustainable Production,” in the city of Chitré, Herrera Province. The event was aimed at producers, students, and the general public. At the opening ceremony, Carlo Rognoni, Director General of the Agricultural Marketing [...]

On behalf of the #TeamCOPEG, we would like to congratulate our Head of Epidemiology for the recognition of her scientific career. On Monday, March 25, the University of Panama named its new Histopathology Laboratory as the Dr. Janina Subía Melgar Laboratory. We are confident that this new facility will contribute to the scientific development of [...]

From February 2 to 4, the #TeamCOPEG was once again present at the Agricultural, Folkloric, and Tourism Fair of La Mesa de San Martín, where many producers and members of the general public visited our pavilion. Visitors to the stand requested information on wound treatment in animals, larvicides, and collection tubes for gathering worm samples. [...]

Once again, #TeamCOPEG was present at the 4th National Senior Roping Championship, organized by ANALPA and held during the week of January 24–28 on the grounds of the FIA. This major tournament attracted many livestock families who visited our stand from different parts of the country. As part of our ongoing campaign to combat screwworm [...]

From January 18 to 21, the Youth Roping Championship was held on the grounds of the Azuero International Fair (FIA), organized by the National Roping Association of Panama (ANALPA). The #TeamCOPEG was present, sharing information through its anti-screwworm campaign at its stand. Throughout the event, many attendees—from children to senior producers—visited our pavilion to request [...]

This year, with a January full of activities, our General Directors — Dr. Enrique Samudio representing Panama and Dr. Celia Antognoli representing the U.S. — visited the student participants of the 2024 National Oratory Contest, as COPEG was one of the official sponsors of the event. The students enjoyed a fun and educational experience through [...]

Dr. María Celia Antognoli has been appointed as the new General Director of COPEG by USDA APHIS and assumed the position in August 2023.** Dr. María (Celia) Antognoli is an accomplished veterinary epidemiologist who has dedicated her career to animal health research and protection. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she earned her Doctor [...]

In the final weeks of October, our country faced several situations that affected the operations of #TeamCOPEG due to road closures in various parts of the territory. However, despite these challenges, we successfully overcame them and completed the shipment of pupae to the Dispersal Operations Center via air transport using a helicopter. This marks a [...]

We are filled with joy to share with all of you the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Dispersal Operations. This milestone represents many years of tireless work in the fight against screwworm infestations, and we are proud to celebrate it alongside each and every one of you. Since their inception, these strategic facilities [...]

In October, #TeamCOPEG welcomed fourteen students from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Panama, who, accompanied by their professor, toured several COPEG facilities. It was truly a pleasure to share our work with them. During their visit, the students had the opportunity to learn about COPEG’s operations and gain insight into the [...]

We are pleased to inform you that on Wednesday, October 4, we proudly received the renewal of our ISO 9001:2015 certification for an additional three years. This achievement is a testament to our team’s commitment and dedication to continuous improvement and excellence. Two outstanding members of our organization received this certification during a formal presentation: [...]

The Panamanian Association for the Advancement of Science (APANAC) held its 19th National Congress on Science and Technology, titled “Panama, Hub of Science”, from September 26 to 29, 2023. During this important event, a variety of research topics were addressed, and one of the highlights was the presentation by #TeamCOPEG, represented by Dr. Aidamalia Vargas, [...]

A delegation of five technical experts from the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries of Uruguay visited the COPEG facilities this September. The main objective of this mission was to gain insight and technical knowledge regarding the actions currently being carried out by #TeamCOPEG to control the rise in screwworm cases observed in several provinces. [...]

On August 17 and 18, the #TeamCOPEG had the privilege of participating in the much-anticipated 42nd National Livestock Congress, held at the Carolina Convention Center in the province of Los Santos. Under the theme “Profitability in Cattle Enterprises in the Face of Climate Change,” the event served as a key gathering point for the livestock [...]

As part of the celebration of International Youth Day, the First National Forum of Rural Youth in Panama’s Agricultural Sector concluded successfully. The event took place from August 11 to 12 under the theme “Rural Youth: Challenges and Dynamic Solutions for the Future” and featured the participation of Minister of Agricultural Development, Augusto Valderrama. Minister [...]

We continue to uphold our commitment to nature by carrying out a mass disposal initiative at various posts in the province of Darién. The goal was to eliminate unused, obsolete, and damaged assets, as well as collect abandoned recyclable materials, contributing to the conservation of the environment. The #TeamCOPEG — made up of Michael Martinez, [...]

Dr. Enrique Samudio, General Director for Panama, had the honor of representing #TeamCOPEG at the 10th National Swine Congress, an event focused on improving pork production in Panama and celebrating 60 years of freedom from Classical Swine Fever. The conference took place in Santiago de Veraguas and was organized by the National Association of Swine [...]

The Technical-Administrative Complex of COPEG, specialized in the production of sterile New World Screwworm flies (GBG), celebrates its 17th anniversary as the only production facility of its kind in the world. Since its inception, it has been a cornerstone in the fight against this pest and has contributed significantly to the sustainable development of the [...]

As part of the celebration of Producer and Agricultural Science Professional Day, the General and Technical Directors of #TeamCOPEG participated in a well-deserved tribute held on the grounds of the Azuero International Fair (FIA) in the province of Los Santos. The event was graced by the presence of high-ranking authorities, including the President of the [...]

More than 15 million sterile flies have been released across Panamá Oeste, Coclé, Azuero, and Veraguas, along with 590 field investigations and visits to producers in identified areas. These efforts are part of the operation launched by the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) in coordination with COPEG, aimed at the control and eradication of the [...]

The Panama–United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of the New World Screwworm (COPEG) is a global success story. Through a cooperative agreement between the United States and Panama, the sterile fly production and dispersal operations, as well as epidemiological surveillance in eastern Panama and Darién, serve to maintain a biological barrier that prevents [...]