Appendix 17A

Appendix 17A

Report of the Executive Committee Progress in the Implementation of the EUFMD Strategic Plan for 2005-8 Reporting Period 2005-6

Summary The 37th General Session in April 2007 falls at the midpoint of the four year Strategic Plan that was agreed at the 36th Session in 2005. This Plan covers a 4 year period between the agreement of the plan at the 36th Session and the 38th Session in 2009. A review of progress is due at the 37

th

Session. This report is based on the paper presented and reviewed at the 74th Session of the Executive Committee in January 2007, and incorporates recommendations from that Session (Appendix 23 of the 74th Session). The Strategic Plan sets out a strategic vision and purpose, which are higher level achievements by the member states, and which should be assisted by the strategic actions of the Commission. Five categories of action were agreed at the 36th Session, with the balance between emergency responses and preventive and other actions being continually adjusted according to the risk situation, and human and financial resources. Progress towards the vision and purpose of the Strategic Plan–a summary 1. Regarding the Strategic vision (goal) In 2005 this was defined as: “- A Europe free of FMD – the FMD disease-free state achieved and maintained in all Europe”. Progress: FMD freedom in European countries has been maintained in period 2005-7, with exception of Turkey and Israel. 2. Regarding the Purpose (higher level objectives) In the 2005-8 plan, it envisaged the member countries, with support from the EUFMD Commission and other partners, working towards the following: 1. No occurrence of FMD in officially free countries of Europe in the period to 2008. Progress: on track – at 2/07. In addition the Republics of Belarus, Serbia and Montenegro, with Kosovo; status of FMD free without vaccination recognised by OIE in 2006. 2. Effective management of risk of entry through improved access to information of FMDV circulation in source countries and of epidemiologically significant events. Progress: severe decline in reporting in 2005 and 2006, impacted early warning. Counter measures taken - regional meetings (with OIE, AU-IBAR); more effort in rumour tracking, to promote sample collection, and typing at WRL Pirbright 3. No occurrence of Asia-1 infection in Turkey over the 4 year period. Progress: on track – to 2/07 4. Reduction in incidence of other exotic FMD types entering Turkey over this period. Progress: not achieved, rate of entry and impact increased in period 5. FMD surveillance targets and reporting in Caucasus countries and in Iran (and Iraq, Syria) that meet the requirements of at risk countries for early warning. Progress: .surveillance intensity increased in Iran; assistance provided to the Caucasus countries and Syria (on track– to 2/07) 6. Incidence of FMD in Thrace region of Turkey reduced to zero in period; targets for surveillance, disease investigation and reporting in Thrace region meet need for early and effective control of incursions. Progress: not achieved. FMD outbreaks in Thrace in 2006, in 2007. 7. Reduction in distribution of type A and type O FMD in Anatolia – defined by increase in the Provinces/area, and in period /time when virus infection is shown not to be present. Progress: not achieved, reverse. Conclusion 1. the European freedom from FMD has been maintained, but was severely threatened from the neighbouring regions by type A and type O regional epidemics in west Asia, with incursions of type A Iran 05 and type O (PanAsia variant) into Iran and Turkey in 2005-6, each resulting

in severe, widespread epidemics and which resulted in multiple introductions in Thrace region in 2006 (type A) and 2007 (type A, type O) 2. The frequency and severity of these events is a major reverse of the favourable epidemiologic situation in 2003-4; in addition type A incursion into Egypt presented a risk situation in early 2006. 3. European reserves of vaccine have been mobilised in 2006 and 2007 in response to the above threat, for emergency vaccination (Thrace 2006) or strategic application in prevention (Marmara and western Anatolia 2006, Thrace and Marmara, western Anatolia 2007). 4. The three south Caucasus countries have been assisted with the maintenance of the Buffer Zone: despite the epidemic situation in Turkey and Iran, no FMD outbreaks were reported in the South Caucasus. An emergency reserve as maintained at ARRIAH, Russia, under the EUFMD/EC funding agreement, for mobilisation in case of emergency. 5. The attention to emergency events, plus lack of funding for active collection of FMD strains circulating in risk areas, has hindered progress on risk assessment and early warning in more distant risk regions to Europe. 6. Regarding the Strategy to implement actions at EUFMD level: The strategy focussed on actions to be taken to achieve outcomes useful to member states to help them achieve and maintain FMD freedom. It was agreed the Commission should focus on delivery in four key categories of action in the period 2005-8, plus emergency response actions if required. Progress is summarised below:

Category of action (approved: 36th Session) 1. Improved system for monitoring FMD virus strain circulation operational Limited, but opportunities improving

2. Technical constraints to preferred European FMD control policies reduced Some progress on vaccination to live/ NSP

3. System for professional development in FMD management/expertise developed Plan, not implemented, but development of Online training modules started

4. FMD risk surveillance and management programmes operating in target countries Progress in Iran, also with the Caucasus countries

5. FMD incursions/emergencies rapidly controlled, where supported by specific Commission decisions Good in 2006 (Thrace).

Progress Comments

Improvements at level of OIE/FAO lab network, and more networking on FMD in some regions. But still no systematic priority system to guide efforts on monitor. Opportunity for FAO/OIE Regional Animal Health Centres to address FMD submission issues. West and East Africa, and west Asia are principle surveillance gaps. Financial resource needed. Epidemiology expert group needed. Good opportunities to collaborate within Europe. Expertise outside Europe not effectively used. Epidemiology expert group needed. Subgroup on on epidemic modelling required. More human resources (and facilitation, Use of communication tools) needed to progress working groups /support Chairman Plan developed (presented to 72nd Executive) but only module 1 (FMD investigation) module development initiated in 2/07 (Online training resources)

Targets 2005-8 were in Turkish neighbourhood: Projects or progress in place: Caucasus, Iran, Turkey (EC project 2007-) Gaps: Syria, Iraq ““New”” gaps: Egypt, Ethiopia, sahel, central Asia Type A Iran 05 epidemic, incursion 2006 in Thrace: effective control with EC support. Risk management , vaccine supply to Turkey autumn 2006. Incursion in Thrace 2007: ongoing. No confirmed FMD incursion in EU countries to date (05-1/07).

Background information: The EUFMD Strategic Plan for 2005-8, as approved by the 36th Session in 2005 Set out a strategic vision – goal Consistent with the EUFMD constitution, the strategy is to undertake a programme of actions that will assist member countries, and the EC, to progress towards the goal, or vision, of: - A Europe free of FMD – the FMD disease-free state achieved and maintained in all Europe. Set out the Purpose (higher level objectives) : Envisages the member countries, with support from the EUFMD Commission and other partners, working towards the following: 1. No occurrence of FMD in officially free countries of Europe in the period to 2008. 2. Effective management of risk of entry through improved access to information of FMDV circulation in source countries and of epidemiologically significant events. 3. No occurrence of Asia-1 infection in Turkey over the 4 year period. 4. Reduction in incidence of other exotic FMD types entering Turkey over this period. 5. FMD surveillance targets and reporting in Caucasus countries and in Iran (and Iraq, Syria) that meet the requirements of at risk countries for early warning. 6. Incidence of FMD in Thrace region of Turkey reduced to zero in period; targets for surveillance, disease investigation and reporting in Thrace region meet need for early and effective control of incursions. 7. Reduction in distribution of type A and type O FMD in Anatolia – defined by increase in the Provinces/area, and in period /time when virus infection is shown not to be present. Recommended a Strategy for action The strategy focussed on actions to be taken to achieve outcomes which are useful to member states to help them achieve and maintain FMD freedom. It was agreed the Commission should focus on delivery in four key categories of action in the period 2005-8:

o Support to FMD control in “traditional risk areas”- threatening south-eastern Europe and Turkey. o Global FMD observation – virus circulation and risk. o Coordination of technical studies to address constraints to policy implementation. o Capacity building across Europe – raising and retaining expertise and competence in the scientific basis of FMD control and in best practises in epidemic management. The Commission should therefore in the 4 year period develop projects, gain funding and implement projects to enable it to develop useful outputs and outcomes which are applied in member countries and beneficiaries:

1. Improved system for monitoring FMD virus strain circulation operational 2. Technical constraints to preferred European FMD control policies reduced 3. System for professional development in FMD management/expertise developed 4. FMD risk surveillance and management programmes operating in target countries 5. FMD incursions/emergencies rapidly controlled, where supported by specific Commission decisions

The Secretariat/FAO should take steps to find funding for the following: • 1: Implementation of an FMDV observation action, supporting European vaccine management through better identification of risk trends and events, including: a. support to developing country veterinary services to collect and submit samples; b. support to information exchange and networking of FMD Reference Laboratories. • 2: Supported actions to address technical constraints identified by the EUFMD Standing Technical Committee, working with the FAO/EC/OIE Co-ordination structure for FMD and CSF laboratories.

• 3: Implementation of innovative, capacity building action to raise technical competence of key levels of the European epizootic control management. • 4: Field programme support: • support the implementation of comprehensive actions for the surveillance and effective response to FMD in the southern Balkans region (Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria); • implementation of a project for early warning of FMD regional risk events, through supported actions with the Islamic Republic of Iran; • implementation of a project for the surveillance and effective response to FMD risk in countries of the South Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan); • identification and formulation of project actions to control risk in other countries neighbouring to Turkey, and in other FMD risk situations, as required by the emerging situation.

Summary of Action -2006

Towards goal of official FMD free status

- Moldova: technical support to assist Moldova towards official FMD free status should be provided under EC-FAO Food Security Programme (EC-FAO

FSP), 2006-8 with FAO implementing and AGAH as lead technical unit. Activity status - under the 5 Strategic Plan categories

Category of Activity Targets/supported EUFMD funded EC-FAO Trust Fund Implementation

1 Improved system for monitoring FMD virus strain circulation operational All European countries, but global value Annual contract with WRL finisihed 2005. Priorities for supported submission: - west Africa, Sudan/horn of Africa Limited: - funding of shipments to WRL - project proposals developed (5 high risk countries)

2 Technical constraints to preferred European FMD control policies reduced

3 System for professional development in FMD management/expertise All European countries

All European countries, potential global EUFMD-Research Group meeting 2006. EC country participation. Meetings of task groups to progress Workplan of EUFMD-RG

Secretariat inputs to training initiative. To be decided. Training initiative prepared: year 1 request circa US$ Good collaboration with research group, and allied European projects. . Specific commissioned studies: Use of A22 vaccine against A Egypt 2006 (by FLI, Insel Riems) None. Deferred to 2007

Category of Activity Targets/supported EUFMD funded EC-FAO Trust Fund Implementation

developed 330,000

4 FMD risk surveillance and management programmes operating in target countries Trans-Caucasus- regional (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) Secretariat technical and admin support time. Vehicle provision – EUFMD TF Trans-Caucasus: Buffer zone Spring and autumn vaccination 2006 funded/implemented..

To be decided: Proposal formulated for 2006-8, 2006 costs of.EURO 636k.

FMD management in target countries Iran Secretariat technical and admin support time Secretariat technical support time Iran:

FAO Technical coordinator in place provided by France.

Phase 1 programme implemented [US$ 761,000, of which 2006: US$381k.]. Good. Buffer Zone maintained in 2006. Emergency reserves of vaccine established (at ARRIAH) to counter A Iran 05 epidemic in Iran/Turkey. Epidemiologts recruited to project (June -06) Surveillance and lab support provided On track. Regional meeting on virus circulation held in Teheran June 06. Molecular epidemiology study program established. 7 Pilot study areas for surveillance/epidemiology established. Sero-surveillance program designed

FMD management in target countries Turkey Secretariat technical support time Turkey: Emergency missions Emergency responses: Good. Sero-surveillance: excellent

Category of Activity Targets/supported EUFMD funded EC-FAO Trust Fund Implementation

Sero-surveillance support - Thrace Emergency Vaccine purchase (1 million doses, 11/06) implementation by SAP Insitute. One million dose vaccine reserve funded/established in Ankara - cover for kurban/bayram risk period

Syria

FMD management in target countries Iraq Mission -Secretary Kit for FMD diagnosis supplied to Damascus

Secretariat technical support time Limited to correspondence

5 FMD incursions/emergencies rapidly controlled, where supported by specific EC decisions Middle-east and north Africa

Secretariat technical support to FMD roundtable meeting 2006 (5 days) EU & EUFMD. As required; Secretariat technical support time Good – regional meeting in Syria organised November 2006 with OIE Office (Beirut)

See Turkey Major incursion of FMD into Thrace controlled by Turkey, with EC supplied vaccine (2.5 million doses) Two further vaccine deliveries (1.66 and 1 million doses) Immediate