Foot-and-Mouth Disease in European Countries

OIE Dr. was r0prosent0d by Prof. F. R. Willems. Th0 Commission Lucam 9 Dr. G. Moosbrugger and v,as represented by Dr. I.A. Gallo·imy, Dr. H.S. Frenkel and Dr. E. F ogedby. The problem was thoroughly discussed and it ryas felt by tho majority of the group that the subject should be approached at a high scientific level. Tho group, thoroforo; made the following proposals g.- the v,hole experiment should be carried out at ono centre; a comparative tost between a "culture" virus vaccine and a "natural" virus vaccine should be carried out; only one type of virus vaccine should be investigated at a time; the number of' animals in the experiment should bo increased from that originally suggested; in order to minimize the risks of infection and so that suitable animals might be readily provided and maintained, tho experiment should be carried out at tho Research Virus Institute, Pirbright; Dr. Frenkel be roquosted to prepare two monovalent vaccines for tho purpose of tho oxporiment (a "culture" virus vaccine and a "nature.l" virus vaccine); tho viruses used for these vaccines should be titratod at tho Pirbright Insti tuto and each of tho vaccines should contain th,, same quantity of antigen� tho immunity produced by each vaccine should bo challongod at throe, six, nine and tvrnl vo months after vaccination, ten vaccinated together with 2-4 control animals being used at each challenge; that 184-192 cattle be provided for tho oxporimont. Tho group also considered tho approximate costs of the oxporimont and came to tho following conclusionsgPurchase of F eeding and animals .••.•••••..••• £ maintenance of 10 9 000

ani ma 1 s . • . • a , • • • o , o • • • • " • o " • o • • £ Ex:penses of exports••••··•······•£ Incidentals •·••··•·····•···•···••£

7,500 1,500 1,000 Total £ 20,000

($ 28,000) ( $ $ 21, ooo l ( 4,200 ( $ 2,800 $ 56,000) It is oxpocted that information on tho financing of tho suggested experiment ·,7ill be available at tho F ourth Session of tho Commission. f.'oot-o.nd-I.Io-1:!ih DiG-On.o·o in L\tropoan Countries The disease position in Europe has boon kept under review since tho last Session of tho Commission and reports have boon made by tho Secretariat to tho Executive Committee. In addition to visits made by tho Secretariat to different countries, tho Executive Committoo received verbal reports from tho Directors of Veterinary Services of Belgium, tho Gorman Federal Republic and Switzerland at a recent mooting. During 1956, tho Socrotariat visited Portugal, Spain, tho Netherlands, F ranco, Switzerland, Denmark and tho United States of America. Early in 1957 short visits �oro also made to tho Gorman Federal Republic, the Netherlands, Belgium, Franco and Austria in connection v,ith tho increase in tho incidence of foot-and-mouth disease in Europe, In Portugal, foot-and-mouth disease has occurred fairly froquently in tho past, invasion, as a general rule, having takon place from Spain.

On tho other ha.nd, some frozen moat is imported from South American countries, especially Brazil, and constitutes a further potonticl source of infection. Tho overall position in Portugal is not considorod to bo serious and outbreaks aro usually mild in character and tho disoaso has shovm a. tcmdoncy to die out. Bocauso of the risk of introducing exotic typos of foot-and-mouth disease virus, ospocially tho African typos, tho importation of cattle into Portugal from AngolA, has boon discontinued.

Foot-and-e10uth disease opizootics in Spain aro, as a gon0ral rulo, caused by invasion of tho disease from Franco. At tho beginning of 1956 tho diseaso flared up and caused a number of outbreaks but, al though opizootics in Spain have of ton boon sovoro, YJi th considerable economic loss, tho 1956 outbreaks vrnro of a mildor cha.ractcr.

In tho Netherlands, only 47 outbreaks occurred during 1956. A systematic vaccination prograra has boon followed a.nd, combined rli th tho slaughter of affoctod animals (usually pigs and unvaccinatcd young stock), has maintained a remarkably satisfa.o-tory disoaso position. A policy of slaught or of 2.ffoct cd animals has boon mado. possible because of tho results of □ass vaccination,

In Switz or land, aft or the outbreaks in May-July 1956 n:ttri hut.�.hl r: to pigs in transit from Belgium to Italy r.'oro brought under control, only sporadic outbreaks have b0on reported. Tho Swiss system of controlling foot-and-mouth disoaso (combination of slaughter, v accination, disinfection and ::1ovomont control) continues to gi vo good results.

In Belgium, tho uso of trivalent vaccine is being extensively p ractised. Tho vaccine consists o f culture virus of O and C typos and natural virus of A type. Thero is clear ovidonco that this vaccine confers a considor.1blo dogroo of immunity>. 1:1ost o f tho outbreaks v,hich are recorded occur anong pigs •,·vhich are not vaccinated, or in young, unvaccinatod co:ttle. Vaccination is being encouraged. Observations in Belgium indicate that� although tho vaocina.tion of pigs may bo followed by an irnmuni ty of short duration, tho poriod of protection may be of considorablo value in preventing spread of tho infection,

In tho Gorman Federal Republic, vaccination is being practised and is giving satisfactory rooults. Vaccination hc1s boon usod along frontiers throatenod by invasion and in localized outbreaks to prevent spread of tho disease. Slaughter of affected animals has been carried out in a proportion of outbreaks but is consid0rod to ·bo impractical in largo herds, Tho prosont position of foot-and-mouth disease in tho Gorman Fodoral Republic would appoar to be well in hand.

In Denmark, only few outbreaks have boon rocontly recorded, Vaccination is proceeding in tho southern part of tho country Yrhoro it is appreciated that tho method of control usod in Germany has provontod tho usual mass infection.