13th Session of the European Commission for the control of Foot and Mouth Disease (EuFMD)

AN:EUFMD/13/66 Meeting Report AN 1966/1

REPORT

of the TEIRTEENTH 3ESSION OF TI-IE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ?OR THE CONT'10L OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

held in Rome, Italy 22 - 24 March 1966

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Naticns March 1966 Rome, Italy

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C O N T il N T S INTRODUCTION ...................................•

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PA1TICIPATION IN THE GE38ION ................... ,

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Delegat1ons.....................................

Observers from Countries ....................... .

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Observers from International Organizations, .....

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PAO Staff ........ , ........................ .

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THE FOSITICN CF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IN EUROPE SINCE THE LAST SESSION ...................

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UNIFORMITY OF CONTROL MEASURES, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO INTB�NATIONAL TRADE .. i� , • • • • • • • • : • • •

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CAMPAIGN AGAINST EXOTIC VIRUSES .................

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Financing of the SAT1/A Campaign ...... ,., ..

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POSITlON OF FOOT-AND�MOUTH .. GICEASE IN TII3 NEAR EAST l,Nl::; NOTITEE?-.N AFJ.ICE ••.•.•.....•.....•.••.•.

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Serological·stucly·of foot�and�mouth· · · disease strnins from Iran and Turkey •...••

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DISCUSSION-ON TYPES AND STRAINS OF

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REPORT OF TH2 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE .............. .

The future nctivities of the Commission . ..

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BULGETS AND ACCOUNTS .........•...... , ...........

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ELECTIONS .........................................

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ANY OTHE':( BUSINESS ••..••••...............•••.•.••

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APFENDIX I THE F00T-ANP-M0UTK DISBAB� ?OSITION IN EU�0PE

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Introduction.•• •• , ..........................•

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Statistical Dnta ........................... , ..

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Statistical Data contd ........••...•.. , ... ·••

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Statistical Data N�ar East an� Northern Africa

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APPENDIX II CULTIVATIOf-1 0? F00T-AND-tlGUTH DISE.f�GE VT�US IN SUSPENDED KIDN:C:Y CELLS ••• , .•••••••.• , •••• •

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APPENDIX III THE FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE POSITION AND CAMPAIGNS DUr!ING 1955 IN SOUTH-EASTBl.N :SU:10P3 .tND ANATOLIA

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Evolution of foot-and-mouth disease in 1965 1 ,

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�istribution of .Virus Ty�es in Turkish Thrace and Anatolia durinl 1965 ••.••.•..... ·••••·•••

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Investigation of the new A virus: Spring and Summer Campaign in Greece, 3ulgarin and Turkey

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Autumn vaccination ·and review of the 1965 campuigns ........ ........................ , • ••.

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Consideratioris and needs for the 1966 Campaign

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liFPENDIX IV R.EPO�T OF T:i-1 B EX:3::UTIVE corllMITTBE•••••.••.•••

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Visits to countries .... , .•............•. , ....

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Meetings of the Co:nmission's Committees .. ,.�.

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Meeting of the ·sian�ing Te�hnical Committee at Lyons aad conclusions ••• , ...... •·•·••·•· ••

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Other Meetings attended by the Secret&riat •• ,

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Future activities of the Commission ••• , ••••.•

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APPENDIX IV (a)

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Minutes of the 3egional Meetin& of the Balkan Countries on Foot-and-Uouth Disease, held in Sofia, Bulgaria, 26-28 April 1965

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- iii AVi?BNDIX VI ( b)

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Summary of Report of Meeting of the Executive Cosni·,1ittee held in Milan on 1 February 1966 ....

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APPENDIX V Budgets for 1966 and 1967., ...••.......... ....

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APFENDIX VI ACCOUNT3 FOR THE T'.-IELVB i!:ONTHS ENDED 31 DECE!JiBD::1 1965 .. .. ........•. ... •.• . ...... ....

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INTRO DU CTI ON ·•'

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Frofessor �.F. Gaier, Chairman, opened the XIIIth Session of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and�Mouth ..

Disease. He called on Dr. K.V.L. Keste�en, Director, Animal Fr oduction and Heal th Division, FAO, to· ·address the assembly.

Dr. Kesteven, in welcoming the delegations and observers on behalf of the Director-General of FAO, spoke of the importance of reviewing the present situation because ·of the seriou�--�hreat to the development of animal production and all related activities in the European economy frdm the three. recent epizootic waves of foot-and-mouth disease.

It was certain,- however, that the efficieut measures adopted to control these occurrences have been of very good value. Without large-scale vaccination which had been rapidly and efficiently carr�ed out, it is impossible to:,esti,;:aH:) the damage :which :·11ight have occurred.

There was also the ttreat of the i:nvasion of European countries with exotic typeG and strains of the virus which was surely being lessened all the time �y the c�mpaigns in Tuikey, Greece and Bulgaria,; in vlhic'h the Commission had shown its usefulness.

He spoke on the collaborative effort of international organizations and on the fi1H11Tcial aid r·ece-.iVed from Bur..bpean. countries, all of·which had been of th�·i�eatest value in the work of the campaign.

Financial resources, however, are a�ain in a critical position and funds are urgently �ae�ed to en�ble the campai&�-to ·· be continued.

The Chairman thanked Dr. Kesteven ihd added his welcome to the delegations and observers, some of whom were �resent at a Session for the first time.

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- 2 PAJTICI�ATION IN THE SSSSION Delegations Austria

Prof. �.?. Gaier Director of Veterinary Services Min�stry of A�ricult�re and Forests Stubenri.ng 1 · Vienna 1

Belgium

Dr. A. Docquier Chief Veterinary Inspector Ministry of Agriculture 18 Bd. Berlaimont Brussels Dr. J. lV1 .. Leunen Director of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Laboratory 99 Groeselenberg Brussels 18

Denmark

Dr. C.I. Werdelin Director of Veterinary Services Nyropsgade 37 Copenhagen V

Greece

Dr. J .. Perakakis Dire�tor of Veterinary Services Ministry of Agriculture Athens

Iceland

Dr. Pall A� Palsson Chief Veterinary Officer Ministry of Agriculture Keldur Reykjavik

Ireland

M�. J.B. Caffrey Deputy-Director of Veterinary Services Department cf Agriculture Upper merrion Gtreet Dublin 2

Italy

Prof. A. Ademollo Director-General of Veterinary Services Ministry of Health Rome (EUR} Frof. Z. Orfei Istituto Superiore di SanitA Viale della ?egina Rome

Italy contd.

P1•of. L. Nardelli . _, Isti tuto · Zooprofilattico' Sperimcn·ta-i�' '.' · Via Cremona 282 ...•. :Brescia• r, •.-,_·' Frof. V. Zavagli Director Istituto·Z6oprofilnttico Sperimental� Via ·tppia Nuova i4i1 �orrta-Capannelle

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Dr. A. Haas Chief Veterinary ·Inspector Ministry of Agriculture ·3, ·rue de Strasbourg ..Lux em bouT g Dr. J.M. van den Born Director of Ve�erin�ry Services lste van ·cten Doschstraat 4 The Hague Dr. J.G. van Bekkum · Director Central Veteriha-ry I'nsti tute 7 G�� K2ttenbtirgerstraat Amsterdam-C -· Mr. E. Stee�beek As�istant Agricultural Attach� Roy�l Netherland E�bassy Via Michele'M�rcati• 8 :·�ome

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Norway

Dr. R. Vollan Director of Veterina�y Services Minist:ry·of Agriculture Akersgatan 42 Oslo :Cep �

Portugal

Dr. J.A� Rosi Azevedo Chief, Department of Animal Health DirectBratc-Generai 6t Veterinary Services Rua Victor CordoQ 4-1� Lisbon

Sw€den

ur . G. Bjorkman

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Switzerland

Girecto'i.':,. Vet·erinary Board Vete��ri�rstyrels6n · Stockholm 3 Prof. A. Nabholz :Cirec i:or of '.Federal· Vet:Brinnry Office -Bir kem-.ieg- 6'1• 3000 Be.!.'ne 11

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Turkey

Dr. G.A. Lloosbrugger · Dir-ector Federal Vac.cine Institut€ Hagenaustrasse 74 Busel Dr. 0, Ozdural Director-General of Veterinary Services Ministry of Agriculture Ankara V

Dr, M. Nazlioglu Chief Gection for the Control of Infectious Diseases �inistry of ALricultu�e Anknra Mr. �(amr nn Inan ?irst Secretary ·Emba�sy of the �epublic of Turkey 28 Via :?alestro Rome Dr. Mn'-i t Gr al Chief,-Foot-and-Mouth Disease Laboratory Ankara-Etlik United Kingdom

Mr, J • :•�eid Chief Veterinary Officer Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Animal Health D�vision Hook : .�ise Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey Mr. B. Conn Chief Veterinary Officer Northern Ireland Ministry of Agriculture Upper Newtownaids Road Belfnst (Northern Ireland} Dr. J.B. Brooksby Director The Animal Virus .1esearch Institute Pirbright, Woking, Surrey

Yugoslavia

Dr. S. Mihajlovil , �irector, Veterinary Federal Services Postfah 36 Belgrade 25 Dr. A. Sedej Chief, Veterinary Services of Slovenia Ti'c ova 19 Ljubljana

Observers from Countries Canada

Dr. K.F. ,r,-lell.s Veterinary .Director-Ge·neral Health of Animals Branch Canada Department of Agriculture Ott aw?.., Ontario

Czechoslovakia

Mr. L. Polak Dir�ctor of Veterinary Services Ministry of A5riculture .Tesnov 65 Frague

France

Dr . H. Gasse Chief of Veterinary Services I\'lin.istry, of Agriculture 3 rue Ba.rb�t de,· Jou:y .

Pari.s ( 7e.}, Dr . C. Mackowiak

Director-General ·• Institut Francais de la Fi�vre Aphteuse 254-�ue Ma�c�i M�rieux Lyon (7e)

Dr. E. Gilbert Chief of I?FA iVlis�-i.on B.P.·�373· Teheran (Iran).

Germany

Dr. �. 1 Eckerskorn Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Forests Bonn

Rurnania

I>r • N . iVJ u nt iu Pasteur Institute for,Veterinary �esearch and :Cy-frcducts .

Giulesti 333 Bucharest 35

Spain

Dr. R. Diaz. Montilla Director-General of Veterinary Services Ministry of Agriculture Madrid JJr. F. Manso Laboratory Specialist Institute for Animal Biology Embajadores 68 Madrid 12

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U.S.A.

Mr. ?.J. Gorcia-3amos Agricultural Attach� Spanish Embassy V�a Mont� Brianzo 56 Rome

Dr . B.F. Cox

Chief European Mission for Research on Animal Disenses Americ2n Consulate General Amsterdam (Netherlands) Dr. J.J. Callis Director Flum Island Animal Disease Laboratory U.S. Department of Agriculture P.O. Box 348 Greenport, Long Island, New York Dr. A.A. neflin ANH �uropean-African Representative Ani111al Disease Eradication Division, USDA American �mbassy Rome

Observers from Internation�l Organizations

E.C.A.

I.B.A.H.

O.I.E.

Dr. G. :Peretti Federconsorzi Servizio Zootecnico Via Curtatoi1e 3 Rome

Mr . J.F.C. Swan · Dir•ector Interafrican Bureau for Animal Health Muguga F.O. Kikuyu, Kenya Dr . R • · Vitt oz Director Office International des Epizooties 12, rue de Prony Paris (17e)

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FAO Staff An i ,n al Ff.• o c1 u c·t ion a nd He 2. 1th Div i s ion Dr. Ervin A. Eichhorn Chief, Animal Health Branch Animal :?roducti:on: and Health Di.vision Sir• Thomds Dnlling Consultant Suro�oan Com�ission for the Control of ?oot�nnd�MOuth Disease Dr. G. M. -. Boldrini' Secretary, Europ�hn Commission for the Controi of ro�t-Bnd-Mbuth Diseese Dr. �.M. Moulton iegional .Froject M�nager Near �not Animal �eDlth Ins titute Beirut :Dr. H.C. Girard FAO Expert c/o FAO 2epresentntive F .IL 181 Bukanliklar

Ankara ·.·-

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I.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The following agenda which has been circulnted y was adopted: 1.

Adoption of Agenda

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Position of foot-&nd-mouth Gisense in Europe since the last Session

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Campaigns Dbninst exotic foot-8hd-mouth disease viruses in south-eastern Europe and Anatolia

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Position of foot-and-mouth disease in the Near East and Northern Africa

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3eport of the �xecutive Committee

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Administrative budgets and accounts

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Election of Chairman

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Election of Vice-Chain,ien

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Election of Executive Committee

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Any other business.

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II.

POS:-TION OP POOT-A.ND-MGUTH DISEASE-- IN EUROPE' SINCE THE LAST SESSION .

The Secret3ry has prepared an introduction to this item, together with some statistics of the outbreaks and virus. types recorded in Europe, Near East and Ndrth Afrita during 1965.

(See Appendix I.)

IRELAND There has been no foot-and-mouth disease since 1941.

UNITED KINGDOM After a long period of freedom from the disease one outbreak (Type C) occurred in April 1965 in a dairy herd'in the south 6f England. Stamp�ng-out was applied and rio secondary outbreaks occurred.

The origin of the ·infection was ·not discovered. There hove been no outbreaks in Northern Ireland since 1941.

ICELAND The disea�e.has hever beeh introduced into this cduntry.

NOW·,1AY

Since 1952 the country has remained free from the disease and every step is taken to ensure the maintenance of this .favourable position.

FINI.AND

This country also aas, enjoyed '·freedom from the dise-as'e dur±ng the last year, DENIYIAaK

Getner·ally •Speaki•ng·,· the foot-and-niouth disease si·tuation in Denmark has been fairly satisfectory.

During the last session of the Commission there were two. outbreaks in pigs caused by virus type C in the island of Moen, situat•ed to the s6'uth-east ·of Zealand. On the <two farms there were about 450 pigs; which wer·e slaughtered immed�ately and buried on · th e · f n r ms ; a n a· not hi rig fur the' r happ c n e d ti tit i ·1 February 1966. · ·On -21 Feb·ruary a·n ou·tbr-eak was reported in a c:attle herd in a; V•il·lage in·· Zen.land nenr the south-eastern coast; Th·e •vi.rus was di�gnosed as typa O, with the same properti�s as O virus present- in ·the ·central p2rt ·of �estern :2urope-.

In the following 10 days, 10 outbreaks occurred within �n ·

- 10 area with.a radius of 7-8 km. from the primary outbreak, with about o�e outbreak per day.

On 3 March the next outbreak occurred at a distance of about �5 k�.- to the north; on 9 March· outbreak No. 16 was reported.

Thereafte�, there were no further outbreaks until No. 17 on 15 March, nnd on 19.March, outbreak No. 18 was ieported.

Most often, cattle were affected, but on 4 farms, pigs have also been involved, either only the pigs or togethe� �ith the c2ttle.

Stamping-out was adopted in all the outbreaks.

About 600 head of cattle and 1,650 pigs were killed and buried on the farms, In all the outbreaks, virus type O was diegnosed. The position now was somewhat difficult bec3use the stocks of 0 vaccine had been prepared with the usual 02 type virus.

As the Danish production at the time of the first outbreak was very limited, supplies w8re obtnined from Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

Ring-vaccination was extended, nearly 200,000 cattle having been vaccinated.

It would seem th�t all the various vaccines used have had a good effect.

The virus has shown normal infectivity in cattle and swine.

SWEDEN Sweden was free from foot-and-mouth disense from December 1960 until 6 March when an outbreak occurred in the south �f the country, caused by type O virus, 35 miles from the Danish outbreak.

The outbreak involved 20 cattle and 50 pigs.

Following the application of a slaughter policy, vaccinati6n iri an area surrounding the outbreak was carried out, using vaccine obtained from Italy.

F�ANCE In France, there was continued .regreasion of foot-and­ mouth disease during 1965, In the fir$t 7 months there were only 10 outbreaks in 9 depnrt2ments. The exact origin of the outbreaks was not' determined.

The types of virus .id�ntified were O - once, A - twice, C - twice.

In these outbreaks, the numbers of infected and contact animals slaughtered were 156 -c�ttle, 1,4&8 sheep and goats, and 320 pigs. The .ca�cases of,. the srnall ruminants nnd the pigs were destroyed.

The cattle were taken in water-tight vehicles to specinl abattoirs for slaughter and the meat, after sterilisation, was used for manufacturing purposes.

- 13 vaccine was used in two regions in North Brab3nt, where some 80,000 pigs were- vaccinated.

In none of the farms was foot­ and-mouth disease diagnosed after 8 days following vaccination.

BELGIUM Belgium was entir�ly free from foot-and-mouth disease from June 1963 to NovG�ber 1965.

The Veter�na�y Authorities were kept informed of the evolution of the epiz9otic caused by virus type C in the Netherlands, and.of the characteristic features of the outbreaks.

The di?ease entered Belgium in November 1965.

Slaugnter of affected and suspect animals and destruction of the carcases was carried out, but tnese :11easures did not pre:vent of the epizootic in a densely pig-populated area and particularly the invasion of piggeries, Vnccination of pigs was begun on 22 December, to supplement the slaughter policy.

The decrease in the number of outbreaks was evidence of the efficacy of tnis vaccination, Vaccine was prepared with type C virus, using the "modified _Frenkel" technique.

The seed virus type C was obtained ei�her from blood of infected pigs at the height of the temper�ture reaction on BHK cell cultures.

Vaccine was injected subcutaneously in the inside of the thigh, the site found to be most favourRble, in e dose of 3 ml for pigs under 30 kg in weight and of 5 ml for heavier pigs.

In a preliminary test, pigs vaccin�ced 10 weeks previously remained healthy when kept in contact with infected pigs.

None of the cattle showed any clinical evidence of foot­ and�mouth di�ense during the epizootic among p�gs. The cattle population is vaccinated annually with trivalent O, A, C vaccine.

Up to the beginning of March when the epizootic was ovGr, 443 establishments had been infected and 23,339 pigs, 567 cclves,. 146 sheep and 5 goats slau�htered.

Systenatic �laughter is the most satisfactory method of eradicating foot-and-mouth disease, but in areas where pig premises are close together, vaccination efficiently completes .stamping-out.

The rapid carrying-out of the oper&tions and the application of sanitary measures led to the successful results.

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FEDERAL REFUBLIC OF GE�MANY In 1965 there were two main epizootic centres of foot-and­ mo.uth. disease in the Cer,;1an ?ederal :1ep'ublic.

(1} In March and A�ril, an e�izootic developed in a strictly limited area of Lower Saxony, where several million pigs are kept.

In this pig-producing area, many foot-and-�outh disease outbreaks, caused by type C virus, occurred.

The control of this e y izootic among pigs (95 percent of all the foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in this period were in pigs) was made difficult, since immunization of pigs is not possible because of the lack of· a suitable vaccine.

The control measures included mainly the prohibition of trade in pigs throughout this region and the stamping-out of the infected piggeries.

In this way during the early summer and the summer of 1965, foot-and-mouth dise�se in pigs was largely limited in Lower Saxony.

(2) Foot-and-mouth disease was not very prevalent in cattle but towards the end of 1965 and the beginning of 1966 the disease appeared in cattle, both types O and C virus being involved.

Type O outbreaks in southern Ger�1any were particularly heavy. This virus type was characterized by n high aggressive­ ness and.a very long incubation period, up to 21 days. The clinical symptoms of the type O outbreaks were serious.

There was much danger not only for the livestock population of the Federal Republic of Germany but also for the cattle populBtion of the bordering European countries. The control measures included the slaughter of infected herds, strict restriction of movement of human beings and animals in the infected districts, and vaccination of the whole cattle population in the exposed L�nder of the Federal Republic. The heavy spread of the infection in southern Germany was halted at the end of January and in February 1966, and a definite tendency of regression was noted.

In Baden-WUrttemberg and in Bavaria about 14,000 cattle and about 10,000 foot-and-mouth diseese infected pigs had to be slaughtered in January nnd February 1966.

The foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks due to type C were also brought under control because of strict veterinary police measures and vaccination campaigns.

About 85 percent of all the cattle population have been vaccinated wit� trivalent vaccine.

EASTERl"T GERMANY

In the first half of 1965 Gn epizootic was prevalent throughout almost the whole of Eastefn Germany.

In all, 13 of the total of 15 districts were infected with foot-and-mouth disease.

In the north-western and southern parts of the country, virus type C predominated, wherens in the region east of Berlin, virus type O w�s responsible for the outbreaks.

In June 1965, the disease disap�eared and reappeared only in

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December 1965, During December 1965 and January 1966 a total of 10 outbreaks was recorded.

POLAND A total of 37 outbreaks of foot-and-iilOuth disease was recorded in 7 departments (Szczecin, Kosznlin, Zeclona, G6ra, Poznan, L6di and Opole) at the beginning of 1965. After a disease-free interval, 2 outbreaks cauBed by virus type 0 occurred in December in the department of L6d�.

They were eradicated within a very short time by the strict measures applied by the veterinary police.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA Czechoslovakia had been free from foot-and-mouth disease for several months, until 12 March when an outbreak among 40 young cattle occurred in a village in Slovakia on the border with Hungary.

It was caused by the same O type v�rus which had entered Czechoslovakia last year. Very severe measures and vaccination in a zone, 50 km. around the outbreak have prevented spread.

U.G.3.1.

The Director of the OIB reported on the epizootiology of foot-and-mouth disease in the USSR, with special reference to the spread of the exotic variant of virus A in the country.

A summary of the outbreaks reported in the various staies of the Union was given.

The exotic variant affected, in the autumn of 1965, the following states of the Union: the Federation of Russia (Centre, North Caucasus, Volga and Oural), Ukraine and Bielorussia .. The peak of the epizootic was reached in November 1965.

Type O �nd type A virus were also responsible for many outbreaks in some other states of the Union.

Much effort.was made by the veterinary authorities to control foot-and-mouth disease in the Soviet Union; severe restrictions w1:;;re pu.t. on the movernen ts of animals, animal products and persons, Quarantine measures and disinfection were rigidly applied under the supervision of the sanitary police.

The J.ussian authorities established contact with the Institutes of Pirbright, Hessarek (Iran) and Ankara, and the �ussian strains of virus A were compared with thoGe prevalent in iran and Turkey. The purpose was to �tudy the characteristics of the new variant with a view to preparing efficient homolo­ gous vaccines.

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Great vigilanca will be necessary during the spring of

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With regard to the Russian situation, Dr. Ozdural (Turkey) informed the meeting that the �ussian and Turkish otrains of virus A were found to be identical. A �reat similarity between the Iranian and �ussian strains was also shown by the inves­ tigation carried ou� ai Hesserak by Frenc� and �ussian workers.

The conclusions of Firbright on the same su'bject hnve been t·hat although slight differences e�ist between the Russian, Iranian and Iraqi str·airis, ·it ,,tfls considered appr·o priate at the present time to classify them as type A22• HUNGA�Y Foot-and-mouth disense c�used by virus type O was found in pigs on a farm in the Commune of Csorna, commune of GyHr, on 10 March 1966, after the country had been free from the disease for two 'months.

By the application of severe veterinary police measures, no spread tock place.

In the regions of the country infected during 1965 1 the cattle population of all communes east of the Danube as well as the communes of Gyor, Vas and Veszpr�rn will be vaccinated with monovalent O vaccine during March and April of this year, In the region of the country bordering Russia, all susceptible nniMals are under continuous veterinary control within areas with a ·depth of 80 km.

This should enable any outbreak caused by Middle East A variant to be diagnosed without delay. Control of the movements of animals are in force.

From 1 December 1965, the importation of susceptible hobfed animals from the Soviet Union has been prohibited, AUSTRIA After an interval of almost three years, foot-and-mouth disease was again imported into Austria on two separate occasions in the east and lat�r in the west of the country.

The first occurrence in the �ast was on 30 Septer ber at Zurndorf, 6 km. from the Hungarian border, at the main railway line and main road connecting Hungary to Austria.

In' all probability, the diseese entered from the Hungaribn border district where it appears that· tl1 c dist: ase was prevalent at that time.

The initial outbreak at Zurndorf was quickly diagnosed as foot-and-mouth disease, and the responsible virus type deter­ mined as belonging to group 0.

Although immediate con�rol measures were taken, the primary outbreak was followed by a total of 36 secondary· outbreaks in the vicinity of the �rimary focus.

No further outbreaks hnve been recorded in the east of Austria since 19 Jan'uary 1966. The' epizootic may, therefore, be said to have been eradicated,

- 17 In the west of Austria, foot-and-mouth disease caused by virus type O virus was �resumably imforted from Switzerland.

In that region the epizootic was first recorded on 12 January 1966 at Zwischenwasser in the Federal Province of Vorarlberg, 6 km. from ;the Swiss, border. Subsequently, the disease spread in the Federal Province of Vornrlberg altho�gh·vaccinations had been carried out on the Austrian border district adjacent to Switzerland.

The well-timed vaccinations resulted in the eradication of the e�izootic within a fairly short time in spite of the considerable tourist. traffic.

In the west of Austria, a total of 14 secondary outbreaks followed.

In. all the outbreaks, all cloven-hoofed animals were slaughtered by official order in abattoirs equipped with all the i11stalla�ions for preventing further spread of the disease.

The total number · of . animals slaughtered was 604 cattle·, 5 3 5 pigs and 2 goats.

The indemnities paid by the Federal Goverhment amounted to approximately 5,800,000 Austrian shillings.

By official order, 370,000 cattle and 30,000 sheep and goats were vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease in the infected areas in the east and west of Austria as well as in especielly end$ngered areas along the German and Swiss borders.

The cost of these vaccinations was 4,240,000 Austrian shillings.

Strict traffic regulations were imposed on the infected areas and their neighbouring districts.

SWI TZE.1 LAND

Th� first outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Switzerland were reported on 21 October 1965 in pigs in Brent s/Clarens (Vaud).

There was another, unconnected with the first, on 24 October in the SchBnenbuch (B5le-Campagne) Commune; In both cases, swill (garbage) from hotels was being fed and may have been the origin of. infection of the pigs.

In both outbreaks, which were reported too late� type O was found an� was also responsible for many other later outbreaks: types C and A were a 1 s o d ia g 1� o s e d .

While the e�izqotic in the Lfile-Cnmpagne canton was relatively quickly bro�ght under control, it spreid in the lower valley of the Rhone towards the north of Lake Leman, invading several cantons along the main• routes of communication.

The number of outbreaks increased weekly until in Chr�stmas week there were 170, Vaccination then began to become effective, with a decrease in the outbreaks.

There was a relatively long incubation period an� often foot lesions were the first clinical symptoms and the hoofs often were shed. The virus seemed to be highly. virulent with the ca�acity of rapid spread.

It was less infective for pigs at the beginning, _but widespread infection in pigs from whey occurred in the Eerne.canton and many were also affected in a region near the Lucerne canton. The cattle had been vaccinated

- 18 and withstood the infection.

Attempts were made to immunise pigs, but the results were not very satisfactory.

Between 2� October l965 anL 20 February �966, there were 934 infected premises, with 17,695 cattle, 31,525 pigs and 303 sheep and goats. Following vaccination of the cattle, only the pigs and calves were slaughtered and the othei animals were revaccinated, with good results.

By the beginning of December, it was realised that the usual methods of control applied in Switzerland were not sufficiently effective to control the e�izootic and general vaccination was carried out, a considerable amount of vaccine being obtained fr6m Denmark, Italy and France.

Some 21/2 - 3 weeks had to elapse after the injcction·of the vaccines before full immunity developed and the duration of the immunity did not seem to be very long.

All the cattle 5oing to the Alpine pastures will be revaccinated.

Some 500,000 animals are involved. · In some threatened areas, gen�ral vaccination will be repeated.

The question of annual general vaccination is now being considered.

The epizootic can now be said to be well under control.

Since 20 February, therB have been only 19 outbreaks and they occurred in the Berne and Lucerne Cantons which were most extensively affected.

ITALY The success attained during 1964 in northern Italy from the vaccination of 2,607,834 head of cattle was consolidated in 1965.

During this year, trivalent vaccination.was extended to cover the entire cattle population of the Fo plain.

Altogether, 4,360,000 head of c�ttle were vaccinated during the autumn campaign, i.e. half the national livestock.

A further million animals were vaccinated on other occasions, either before they went to the alpine �astures or when ring-vaccination had to be applied around infected foci.

The number of outbreaks declared during 1965 was 5,842, compared �ith 12,364 reported in the previous year. Most of the outbreaks occurred in regions of the country where systematic vaccination had not been carried out.

During January and February __ 1966, 592 outbreaks were reported,· compared with 2,563 during the corresponding period in 1965.

The most prevalent virus type was O, followed by ,type C and, finally, type A5.

Because of the extensive vaccination campaign carried out, the Po plain was not seriously inyolved in the epizootic waves which affected several other European countries. The severe restrictions imposed on the importation of animals and theif products may have contributed to the result.

_

'1

-

NEUTRALIZ!-.T10N TEST

Virus A

Antiserum

Teheran

Teheran

1

N'Civ.

Tabriz

1

•·

1963

Turkey ·

1 :

: 6.7

8,<-1

1 : 160

2.1

13.3

1

..

1.'7

28.1

1

:

'7 5. 0

-

40 5

80

Taoriz

Teheran

1 : 2.4

30.1

1 :

December

Tabriz

1 :14.2

11.8

1 : 160

1964

Turkey

1 :

20.2

1 :

80

:

·40

..

-

Normal

5. 3

64.2

: 1.2

30.1

5.6

8.4

1 : 160

1 :22.1

1.1

1· :

Turkey

Teheran

1

January

Tabriz

1 :

19-65

Turkey

-

Normal

*

CF Titres

-

Normal

I

Mean CFE

50.0

1

-

320

Serum dilution protecting 30 percent of cells in neutralization test.

. . ,.

' I• ': '\.•.:,,.

J.

I !

V.

aE?0�T OF TIIJ EXECUTIVE COGMITTEE

The Chairman commontud on the various Sections 0f th c �epcrt which was �r0sentcd. ( Seo Ln, endix IV.) He drew s ;;- e:cial attent:i.-::,n t,, the- folll).-7:i.ne: points: The imp c r t a n c e a t t ,:-. c h e d by t 11 c Corn,,, i s s i CJ n t c, t ·11 <� -� e g ion a 1 Meetin� of Balkan countries hcl( st tho initiative uf the Commission and attended by representatives �f tl1e Veterinary Services of Bulgaria, CrGece, Romania, Turkey and Yugoslavia and the Director of O.I.E., t0gether with Dr. Eichhorn, FAO, and the Chairman and th0 $ecretary ,_;f th& Comr11isc'Jion.

The Meeting uf the Executive Committee in ·,!arsaw, held on 11 September 1965, part uf which was a joint meeting with the O.I.E, Permanent Foot-and-Mouth Disease Commission. This meeting was held on the occasion of the O.I.E. Commission for Europe.

An excellent opportunity was afforded for wide discussion on the _situation of foot-and-mouth disease in Europe and the_ campaigns against the i"ntroduction of exotic strains of t·he viius into Europe.

The meetint of the aesearch Group of the Commission's Standing Technical Committee in Lyons, at which some highly important problems on the control of individual vaccines were fully and openly discussed, It will be noted that the meeting was attended by research workers· ·from countries :in which the laboratories ar� now being established and organized with the assistance of the Commission. The comprehensive report of the work carried out at the meeting, including many of the.papers presented and summaries of the discussions is now being issu�d.

The �uggested agenda for the 1966 meeting of the Group to be held at the Pirbright Laboratory, England, includes: 1.

Further studies on the problems of innocuity and potency of inactivated vaccines, including the use of guineapigs and sheep in the control of vaccines.

2.

The epidemiology of the disease and the current subtype situation.

3.

Vaccine production fr0m cell cultures.

4.

Vaccination of pigs (as reque3ted by the Commission).

The future activities of the Comm�ssion.

The need was stressed for the Secretary to be provided with all up-to-date infurnati�n as stated in the report of the Executive Committee in Milan.

The Report of the Executive Committee w□s approved.

- 34 -

AFI ENDJ./

T

Introduction Se en as a wh,�le, the foo t--and--r, o u th di Ge 2.se situation in 1965 has presented as"p·ects l,f 5reat intere:st.

The first months of the year were characterized by the continuation of the severe type C epizootic which, in 1964, had affected swine in certain regions of (;erinany, the Netherlands and Italy, where there is the greatest concentration of pig­ raising.

During the summer months, there was a general improvement in the situation, with the disease either in marked regression in many countries or limited to sporadic outbreaks.

In the autumn, however, a new flare-up of the disease took place almost simultaneously in several European regions.

While virus type C reappeared and spread rapidly among swine in Germany and the Netherlands, also involving Belgiui a little later, new epizootic waves, due to vi�us types O and A, invaded several countries in eastern and central-western Europe.

Virus O began to spread in September along the Dan�be and in October, spread to Austria which had been free foi the past three years.

In October, the same type of virus was found in western Switzerland and gave origin to a violent epizootic which extended in a north-easternly direction, involving also southern Germany.

DurinL the same period, virus O appeared in countries as far apart as Spain and Turkey, where the virus was found suddenly and simultaneously in several provinces.

The chara�­ teristics of the O virus infection, particularly in Switzerland, were a marked aggressiveness and pathogenicity and in some cases also unusually long incubation periods.

During the same period, an exotic variant of the A virus spread over large territories in the west of the USSR, thus endangering the rest of Europe, Strains of presumably the same A variant had already reached the Greek frontier several months earlier (May i965} after hnving invaded the Near East, including the Caspian area and subsequently Turkey �n autumn.1964. ,, Vast European territories remained free from the di�ease in spite of dangerous outbreaks in their neighbourhood.

It was undoubtedly due to systematic application of general vaccination of the cattle population over large territories that the epizootic has not resulted in disaster during 1965.

The progress reached in the quality and product�on capacity of vaccines makes for the success obtained in countries either by keeping the disease outside their borders or in rapidly restoring the situation.

54

A� PEN:)IX IV REPORT OF.THE EXECUTIVE -COMMITTEE The activities of the Commission since the Twelfth Session did not differ substantially from the pattern of work initiated in 1962 with the inception of the SAT1 campaign in s�uthern ·Europe and Anatolia. .

The main scope �as to continue the actiop _directed �o�ard�. preventing the entrance into Europe of exotic types and variants of the foot-and-mouth: disease virus. As is known.,, another epi­ zo0tic I c�uoud by a �ew A variant (Middle East.�ari�ntl of the . foot-and-mouth disease virus spread to all regions which were already the theatre of the SAT1 campaign and everythi.ng possible has been done to achieve, also against this second menace, @imil:.r rGcults ,,s wcr(:;' rer.chcd with the SATl virus.

This brought about an intense activity of the Commission's Secretariat who, as in the past, was entrusted with the organization of the campaign and maintenance of coritacts with countries, authorities, institutes and experts involved in it.

The particular aspects of this work were essentially the same as in 1965, i.e. procurement of additional funds needed to ,continue operations and ipclude control of a further exotic virus in the campaign; coordination of the work in Turkey and ·Iran directed towards astertaining the real importance of the new variant from ony point of view; the.supply of vaccine for the spring and autumn campai�ns; the supply of material and equipment to the assisted institutes at Ankara and Athens; repeated contacts with the PAO experts working in the field •·(Mr. Stubbins) and at the laboratories (Dr� Girard) within the framework of the campaign; contacts with veterinary authorities, experts and specialists engaged in foot-and-mouth disease work in the Near East; participation in the administrat�on of the funds for the SAT1 campaign; reports on the situation of the campaign, etc.

These· activities ws:r<: c�,ntinu,"·•d 1.· n �-...,. C C (. r C . ·:a C e _. with the suggestions of the FAO/EEC/OIE Consultative Committee made at its IVth meeting on 29 March 1965 (minutes of this meeting; page 45, XIIth Session R�port), ) .

ln the . autumn of. 195 5 a new epiz0otic, .caused pro ba_bly _by the same Middle East variarit of t�e A vlrus type, spread in westePn regions of the Soviet Union, thus cre�ting great cancer� in western Europe.

The Secretary was invited to an informative meeting at the GIE Headquarters in Pnris on 14 Decembe�~ �1965.

Here, he discussed with the Chairman of the Commission the possibility of earmarking funds available in the Commission's Special Account for the purchase of 40,000 doses type A vaccine (homoi�gous to the Middle East sribtype�. The vaccine will be dispatched for ring vaccination in case of

MR/42003

56

��e�gency 11 shoul4 the disease appear in any member country of the' Commission. , !�:addition it w�s �gTeed with PAO tha�·�nt�serum, specific for the -.Middle East A virus shoul.d be ·,.tmmediate.1y dispatched _by Pirbright to Europe�n countries bor4ering the USSR, at the expense of FAO. Mainly conne,ct . ed with the S_AT1/A campa"igns were the two trips t_ o cou�trios in scuth�oasttrn Europe_·undertaken by the Secretnry of the Con.mission.

1..

Visit t _ o G�eece, ,Turkey, Bulgariu and th€, .:1cgional �;i0i;_ting of the Balkan coqntries (22 April-16 May 1965)

(a) Visit to Gre . ece .,(23-25 May 1965). This visit. was �arried out together with Dr. E.A. Eichhorn, with the object of discussing the· d,isense position in Greece and the pr.ogress made in the productio,n; of larger quantitios of foot-and-mouth disea-se vaccine at the Jnsti�ute of Ag�in Faraskevi (Athens). This has bee_n .of particular ,,importance in view of the new situation which arose because of- tbe- appsarance. of the new variant of type A' virus in Greek terri�ory at the borders with Turkey ,and the necessity to coordinate accordingly the activities within the framework of the campaign.

At the Institut.e, it became apparent that, at that time, a maximum of 100,000 monovalent doses could be produced per month.

This capacity is still inadequate if compared with the number of ruminants in the country (14 1 000,000 small ruminants and 1,400,000 large ruminants) and the necessity of k�eping vast areas under protection against two or. three virus types.

Production capacity will be considerably increased Wh�n the· new wing of the Inst�tute is completed which will p.ermit the use of all equipment furnished by FAO within the framework of. the SAT1 campaign.

-

..

Va�ious t�chnical problems concerning the maintenance of the buffer zone, the production and testing of vaccine, the expqnsion of work on tissue culture �nd the reorganization of the . Irts�itute. were discussed. The progress made by· the· Ins ti tJ1 te in cultivating foo t-and-mou th disease virus on kidney ·tissue was also appreciated. (b) Visit . to Turkey (29 April-15 May).

Ankara. The objects of the yisit were to coordinate the· actiVities of the two FA6 �xperts i ,Dr. Girard and Mr. Stubbins, to arrange :for Dr. Girard's continuation and expansion of his activities es adviser for laborato�y work and fqr setting up the new Foot­ and-:t;'iout.h _Dise,c1se I·�•stitute, to make arrangements for ·th.e· spring a�d $½Mme� vaccination campaign to .be carried otit in Thrace ·an,d.the; ;Ma:rmara Se.a nreas,.against SATl, A and O,virus types,- to ,Qiscus.s the supply of- equipment still needed' for·,'.· laboratory work, an Jt.)revi-ffw: the ,pr-og.r:e-ss made in the ·:o:rganiz·ation: of control of fqot-and-m:outh. disea�Ei in ,general.,

56

In particular, the Secretary took note of the final results of the expel'iments carried out in. Turkey under the di.rection of Dr. Girard and in collaboration with French experts in order to establish up_to which degree, if any, the European v�ceine of type A could ·Protee t against the new strain (Middle Bast A strain) which had entered Turkey in late 1964. The results obtained by the comparative testing of three European vaccines had made it possible to classify the new subtype as exotic just in time to make possible the supply of homologous vaccine requ{red for the vaccination of the buffer zones, the rest of Thrace and other important areas of Anatolia. the efforts made by the Turkish Government to · Also, take part in the supply of important installations for the new Institute, for instance the piping necessary for the ven­ tilation and air-conditioning of the whole Institute, were noted,

..

Finally, the Secretary participated with Dr. Ozdural and Mr. Stubbins in a meeting with the officers of the US AID Mission, Cen�ral Office in Turkey. The possibili·t y and ad­ v�sability of expanding the assistance program for the produc­ tivity i�p�ovement of local bovine breeds (Livestock Feeding Project}, combining that program with the �ctivities aimed at the creating foot-and-mouth disease free areas, were discussed.

Together with the Director-General Field Trie in Turkey. of the Italian Veterinary Services, Professor Ademollo, the S�cretary visited breeding farms and experiment stations for animal production (Lc;1lahan), the dj.E.gnostic centre and tbe indust�ial slaughterhouse at Konya, the Veterinary Institute at Fendik and the provincial Veterinary Office and the quarantine station at Izmir.

The purpose of the trip was in particular to investigate the organization of the peripheric veterinary services in western Anatolia with a view in future to collecting animals for export in this part of the cou�try.

At Izmir two isolation stables, the construction of which was recently completed and which brought the capacity of the station up to 300 animals, were visited.

For the time being any export from this station into Europe is suspended. (c) �isit to Bulgaria and the Region8l·��&ting of B3lkan Countries. In Bulgaria the Secretary• made a visit, together with Dr. Eichhorn, to some Veterinary Institutes at Sofia including the laboratory producing foot-and-mouth disease vaccine and made a trip through Bulgarian Thrace, where buffer zones are being maintained against SAT1 and A•virus.

The efforts made by Btilgaria to colliborate with PAO in keeping the country free of foot-and-mquth disease were observed. �owever, the produ�tion capacity an� layout of the laboratory were found. quite · inadequate to meet the require­ ments of the country.

The Director of Veterinary Services, Professor A. P 6pov;intimat�that the Government anticipates building a new foot-and-mouth disease insti�ute in a suitable area near Sofia as soon as_ financial means will become available.

The cbns�ruction is foreseen f or 1967.

A Regional Meeting of the Balkan Countries was held from 26-28 April -1965 at Sofin at 'the• initiative of -the Commission 'ani with the participation of the Director of OI·E. · Dr. Fopov organized the meeting and was able to secure the participation o E . delegations from Greece, Rumania, Turkey· and Yug·oslavia and of an observer from Hungary.

The Chairman of the Commission, Dr. R,P. Gaier, was elected Chairman of the Meeting;

•

The object of the meeting was to examine the position of foot-and-mouth d.i:s-eu8e in south-eastern Europe nnd the Near ,East, the progress made during three years through vaccination programs in· the buffer· zones and in Turkish Thrace, the danger of the spv--e.ad of presen-t exotic vi1'us types or subtypes into Europe through· Anatolia and· the Bosphorus, nnd the possibility of , apvlying uniform -sanitary regulations to facilitate commercial trade in animals and products of animal origin .

In particul�r, the Secretary reported on the steps taken

by FAO to determ�ne the characteristics of the new type A variant compared with the classical strains used in the production of A type vaccines in Europe. He also gave info�­ mation on the· supplies of homologous A vaccine ordered for the bivalent (SAT1/A) protection of the buffer zones and on the intention to extend such vaccination to the whole of rurkish Thrace.

The meetint endorsed the action taken by_FAO to create and maintain buffer zones •in south-e�stern Europe and re6ommei��d that border areas at a depth of not iess than 20-30 km. on both sides. of ·the Turco-Bulgarian and the Turco-Greek frqntiers should continue to be protected as long · as the threat of foot­ and-mouth disease persists in this strategically impo�tant area.

All participants in the m�eting e�phasized the necessity for improved regulations concetning import, export and tra�sit of ani�als and prciducte of 'ani�al 6rigin between the resp�ctive i count�ies, It was·-agreed, howevei, that no g�r eral rules co�ld ' be laid down at that time and that bilateral agre�ments to fit th�ir individuai nee�s should be stipQlated between countries, Another recommendation str6ssed the ne�d for accurate and timely exchange of information between countries and the immediate notification by OIE on any new appenr�nce of f6ot­ and-mouth disease in the region, At the conclusion of the meeting a documerit was appfove� and signed by the chiefs- of delegations (see attach�erit ·1�a), The meeting at Sofia offered a welcome opportunity to review- in detail and with the participa•ti0n of a:11· countri.es concerned, p�oblems �hich had ilready been· discussed on a m9re. general leve1 at the XIIth Ses�ion of the_ Eu�opean Commissi9n_ for the Control of Foot-and-Mobth Disease (R�me� 30 March 1 April 1965) which was not attended by deleg�tions from Bulgaria or Greece·.

58

2.

Second visit to Lebanon,·Turke� and Greece.

3 November).

(15 October -

Lebanon. At Beirut, the Secretary had contacts with Dr. Moulton, Project Manager of the Near-East Ani�al Health Institute (NEAHI), Mr. Childs, Instrument Technician at the NEAHI and Dr. Nahme, Director of Veterinary Services, Lebanon.· The sanitary situation in the Near Bast with regard to foot-and-mouth disease and other infectious diseases was dis­ cussed with Dr. Moulton, as well ns the action taken to instruct veterinarians of the region, mainly those working in the Persian Gulf area, in diagnostic techniques, early reporting of the presence of foot-and-mouth disease and other infection� diseases, disease control, etc. As is known, exotic diseases have easy access to the Neai East because of the active and often many of these originate from uncontrolled livestock trade: infected countries. The danger of a possible spread to Turkey and the European Continent is evident . . At Tripoli, the Secretary visited the new quarantine station about to be set up by· the Lebanese authorities in view of the importation of ruminant� from the African Continent, Various problems connected with such difficult and dangerous enterprises were dis cussed with Drs. Moulton and Nahme. ..

Turkey.

In Turkey, the Secretary discussed with Drs. Ozdural, Nazlioglu and Girard the results obtained in. Thrace with bivalent and sometimes trivalent vaccination during the spring and summer months.

After the completion of vaccinntion, only a few outbreaks had been observed. In these outbreaks, a very low percentage of animals was affected with patent symptoms of the disease.

As with the GAT1 virus, vaccination with homologous A vaccine proved an excellent me ans of c ori trolling the ne_w epizootic.

The absence of SAT1 virus from Thrace for the second year and th� fact that in Anatolia typing had not disclosed any SAT1 virus since July 1965, was considered highly satisfactory.

Dr. tizdural, however, expres�ed his c6ncern about the simultaneous recur�ence in several Anatolian provinces of ne� outbreaks due to virus type O and asked the Secretary to attempt to procure a stock of type O vaccine from other sources. The Secretary undertobk to investigate this possibility immediately afte.r h-is return to Rome.

In reviewing with Dr. Girard the p�ogress of the laboratory work carried out at Etlik, the Secretary became aware of the difficulties which prevented Turkey from regularly producing sufficient quantities of good yaccine in the old, small laboratory at the Etlik institute. On the othe r hand, he noted the slow progress made during 1965 compared with that in 1964 in the construction of the new institute, and the conse�uent

59 impossibility of producing adequate quantities of vaccine for the ._ ....... next biennium in Turkey·; The-work ·of· the;very active diagnostic section �as found to be ex·tremely satisfac·tory as :in ·the first .nine months of 1965, 2,.500 specimens of foot-�nd-�outh �aterial·had been examin�d; But the most intoresting and concrete results at Etlik in 1965 are probably the improvements made by Dr. Girard of the quality and co6rdinat±on Of the woik of th� personnel employed in the f6ot-and-m6tith·•disease laboratory (twel�e veterinarians), Improved techniques in vaccine production were set up, so far with favourabl8 and fairly constant results,· The program of future activities at the institute was reviewed with Dr. G±�ard and it was agreed that Mr. Childs (Near Eist Animal Health'Institute) should make a further visit to Turkey in order to advise on the installaiibn of the equip­ ment in the institute under construction.

A fur ther plan for the autumn vaccination of the buffer zones and the regions near Istanbul was examined in detail, wi•th DI',,-· -Ozdur ar an·ct Dr. Nazlioglu.

Greece. The program for the autumn vaccination of the buffer zones (province o� Evros) wa� di�cuss�d with Dr, Perakakis and a visit was made to the Institute of Aghia .:.,Fiara:ske:vi.

It was ,g,ratifyi•ng to note the co'nSiderable progress 1 m1,1<a·a�-'. by •this Institute in its vaccine--production c·a1:,acity, whi-c:-h,:w.as ·d:ue mainly to the installation of two rolling drum a�ps�at�& in th� -tissue culture section.

Unfor t \itrl ate 1 y , t tie i·a ck -of s p ac e at' t he In stitut e s ti 11 cre,ate:s ·considerable· difficulty and it is hoped that decisions will soon·.be· made ·for expansion of the Institu're to be begun in the :early ,mo-nths ,·of· 1966.

1

'

A;

MEETINGS OF TI-IE COMMISSION'S COMMITTEES

Executive Committ��- ·

Wars:aw ,' · on· ·the occasion of the Conference of the OIE Permanen't Commi!Ssion. f6r Europe· at Warsaw (7-11 September), the Secretary of the Commission convened a meeting of the Executive Committee. ' Twd �essi6ns �eri hrild;on the 11th September, the first a clos'e'ct' :·m·eeting f'o.r the mem·bers of the Executive Committee � only._ ;

60 The First Session (11 September 1965) was attended by Dr, R.F. Gaier, (.r\.\rnt:d_a: -Chc:-irn!"'.!l.i Dr, E. Fritschi (Switzerland) and Professor A, Ademollo (Italy} Vice-Chairmen; Dr. J.M. van den Born (Netherlands); Mr:. L. Patkovic (Engineer) Yugoslavia (representing D'r. 'Mijailovic) and Dr. G.M: Boldrini, Secretary of·the European Coi0ission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

A report, prepared by the Secretary of the Commission to the Executive Committee,was circulated and approved. The report contained: (a)

Statistics on the foot-and-mouth disease situation in Europe;

(b}

the development and the prospects of the campaigns con­ ducted in 1965 against the SAT1 and A (Middle East) virus types in south-eastern Europe and Anatolia;

(c)

the activities of the Secretariat in connection with the above campaign;

(d)

a summary of the Regional Meeting of the Balkan countri�s held in Sofia, Bulgaria on 26-28 April 1965;

(e)

the future activities of the Commission.

Regarding the position in Europe, a report was given by the Lirector�General of Veterinary Services, Italy, on the results and the development of the vaccination campaign against foot­ and-mduth disease undertaken on a large scale in northern Italy since autumn 1964.

It was noted with much satisfaction that Italy had made great efforts to begin systematic annual vaccination of her livestock, as is ·now carried out in various other European countries and which will lead to a definite improvement in the control of foot-a�d-mouth disease in this country.

The possibilities of introducing the disease into Italy through the importation of livestock (700,000 head of cattle were imported in 1964 alone) and the great difficulties connected with an efficrent control of the animals entering the country via the alpine border transit points have been evaluated.

The meeting appreciated the efforts made up to the present time and the perseverance with which the policies were pursued, w ith a ·1.ri e: i, t o ext endi n g an nu a 1 va ccination t o a 11 the nationa1 territories.

The Executive Committee also expressed satisfaction concerning the activities carried out by the Secretariat of the European Comm�ssion with regard to the FAO campaign against the exotic viruses, SATl and A (Middle East strain), and of the remarkable results obtained in the control of these two viruses in Thrace.

The efforts made by Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey in organizing the proper applic�tion of vaccines obtained thr0ugh FAO_ were emphazised.

62 Item I. Spe�kers from Poland 1 the Federal Republic of Germ�ny 1 the Gritmin Dem6cratic 3e�ublic, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugosl�via� ltij1�, Rumania 1 Bulgaria and Turkey gavd accounts of the sinitaiy situatiohs in th�ir respactive countries. · . �ri pirti��la�; Dr. �ck�rsko�n emphnzised the difficulty of 'controlling· foot-and-mouth disease in pigs esQecially in those areas· where there is a very high concentration of this species.

Th_e adoption of vaccination, even with imported _ vacci�es 1 _gave ·no noteworthy results, possibly because of the too short immunity conferred. However, Germany had in mind to adopt, probably in the winter 1965/66, a "stamping- out" policy.

Dr. Heinecke, German Democratic Republic, rQferred to the success of trivalent vaccination which permitted the liquidation of the last epizootic wave of the disease (Spring 1965) and to the promising results which were obtained with a ne� modified live virus-vaccine, intended exclusively for the vaccination of pigs.

Dr. Osz explained the difficulties encountered in his country in bringing the disease under control and the impo�tant role played by tourists in the passive transmission of the virus.

Dr. Kouba, the Czech del8gate, dealing with the same problem, stated that in his country too 1 the movemen tsof human beings had to be limited during the last epizootic.

In addition, tourists are not admitted from the neighbouring countries if foot-and-mouth di�e�se has been reported within 10 kilometer� from their place of origin.

Czechoslovakia slaughtered over 7,000 cattle in the first five months of the year.

Yugoslavia also attributed significance to the movement of tourists, as stated by Dr. Patkovic, for the passive trans­ mission bf the disease. ·r� the first few �bnths of 1965, 5�842 pi�s had to be slaughte�ed bef�re the disease could be brought under control. · For Italy, Professor Ademollo spLk? in mLre detail than in the. previou� meetingpn the �esults of the first campaign in the Po Valley where,.3,5OO,OOO cattle were vaccinated during Autumn 1964, He underlined the Government's determination.to continue along these lines·in order to arrive, if possible, at annual trivalent �actination of all livestbck in the. country.

He reiterated the importance of the dang�r to which Italy is exposed because of the importation of s0veral hundred thou�cind cattle per year, addin� that the disease had entered Italy in this way· on at leasr two ocGnsions during the first few mvnths of 1965.

The Secretary of the Commission pointed out that in Bulgaria, Rumania and Greece,the mea�ures adopted to control foot-and-mouth disease have had full success aQd that it had beeri possible to keep a region as important as south-east�rn Europe free from the di��ase.

Dr. Sadettin presented a comprehensive report on the situation in Tuikey end the efforts which are being made 0t present to identify and to c�nt�ol'the n�w· A v�riant. ,,

67 OTHER MEETINGS ATTENDED BY THE SEC::{ETA�Y, AND VISITS

The XXXIIIrd Session of OIE 2·4-29 May 1965.

Among other matters of general interest, the evolution df foot-and-mouth disease wns·disctlssed on a world-wide basis and the acti0n taken by FAO and the Commission in controlling foot­ and-mouth disease in south-�astern Buro9e was mentio�ed.

Some �ountries repo�ted on the live modified vaccines used by them in the prophyl�xis of foot-and-muuth disease; this was in view of an inventory now being prepared by OIE on this subject.

The Third Conference of the OIE Permanent Com�ission for Europe. ·War�aw, 11 September 1965.

The -Secretary re·presented PAO at this meeting, which gave him an opportunity of convenin& the Executive Committee· (��e under Commission's Com�ittee Meetings} and exchanging i�f6r­ mation and views �ith �eveihl d�legates of Centrai Europ��n countries.

Visit to the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale, BPescia, Italy, 19-30 July 1965.

At Brescia,the Secretary, as in previous years, spent a few days at the Institute to collect information on the latest developments in vaccine production techniques. In particular, he was able to note a great expansion in the industrial application of tissue culture techniques and the promising progress in the technique of virus culture in suspended cells.

The epizootiology of foot-end-mouth disease and the results of the first general vaccination can�oign in the Po Valley were discussed.

Future Activities of the Commission The Crn ..mission will continue to encourage national and international actiun for the control of foot-and-mouth disease in Europe.

To this end, close contacts will continue to be kept with Government nuthorities, OIE and other specialized agencies and institutes.

If necessary, the Secretary will visit European veterinary services And institutes in 0rder to collect information on the progress of disease control, vaccination schemes, vaccine production techniques and research on foot-and-mouth disease.

The member countries of the Commission, in turn, should furnish the Secretary with all the information which could be of use to him in view of the activities to be carried out, in compliunce with the Constitution of the Commission,