RIYADH — The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) has officially declared that Saudi Arabia is free of equine viral arteritis (EVA). This is after the Kingdom fulfilled the technical requirements and international standards for declaring countries free of animal diseases. This official recognition followed WOAH's evaluation of the technical file prepared by the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plants Pests and Animal Diseases (Weqaa Center), which included the surveillance and preventive measures and epidemiological monitoring programs applied in the Kingdom, in compliance with WOAH's requirements and standards. This international recognition reflects the level of progress in the Kingdom's animal health services and strengthens the credibility of its veterinary procedures internationally in disease prevention and control. It is noteworthy that equine viral arteritis is a contagious disease in horses caused by the equine arteritis virus.
