Diseases (GF-TADS

Appe ndi x 20

FAO/OIE Global Framework -Trans boundary A nimal Diseases (GF-TA DS) Global risk reduction pathway –FMD

Back ground: in 2006, despite the attent ion to the highly pathogenic av ian influenza crisis, FAO has organised a higher than usual number of regional/international mee tings on F MD risk , e.g. in neareast (with O IE, under the Regional GF -TADS) and East A frica (with A U-IBA R/PACE). Follow up actions are required in all regions. Prospects for co-ordination with O IE are good, with sev eral new opportunities for establishing regional network s supported by FAO /O IE Regional Animal Health C entres (RA HC ), e.g. Gaborone/SA DC , W est A frica/Bamako; and India/SAA RC . In 2006 sev eral technical meet ings were organised under the EMPRES entity and technical back stopped by the EUF MD Secretary , a possible model for the future. A n O IE/FAO F MD Reference Laboratory network now exists (since 2005) and has made a promising start. The recent W ellcome Trust/ILRI led meeting on dev eloping a “”global roadmap for F MD control in endemic settings”” highlighted the need for action to promote international F MD control, and the interest of the research community to contribute. W ith the current emphasis on re-structuring in FAO , technical personnel in FAO (EUFMD Commission, EMPRES/A GAH) and initiativ es (F AO /OIE/W HO GLEW S; the Emergency C entre (EC TAD)) could reorganise to support a co-ordinated approach to F MD risk monitoring and reduction activ ities; thi s may assi st lev eraging funds for some of the initial activ itie s to establish risk monitoring sy stem (including specific F MD risk monitoring actions in strategic locations)

Summary A t global lev el, the GF -TA Ds framework mak es clear that reduction of the risk from F MD is a global public good. Progressiv e control, leading ev entually to area wide elimination, has been successfully demonstrated in sev eral parts of the world. The GF-TA DS framework env isages wider participation in the progressiv e control concept, to include the 30-50 countries currently with least dev eloped control programs and which constitute a major source of risk for those countries already inv esting in F MD prev ention and control. It is suggested here that progressiv e uptak e and application of F MD risk reduction measures, under the joint FA O-OIE approach to transboundary disease control (GF -TA DS), by : - Reaching agreement on an international risk reduction pat hway (roadmap for progressiv e control of F MD), with inter alia, an agreed ov erall monitoring and evaluation program - putting in pla ce enabli ng information systems for monitoring risk and success of risk reduction programs in k ey endemic regions (in each eco-sy stem in the GF -TA DS regions where F MD is being maintained) - supporting essential s urveillance actions in k ey locations to ensure a baseline of information for design of regional risk reduction (including v accination) programs, - improv ing the access of countries to essenti al information to plan emergency responses (including reference laboratory serv ices) - improving international awareness of FMD impact of F MD in the most heav ily infected regions, to enable adv ocacy to regional and national stak eholders - an overall structure that promotes activities in the regional network s and FAO -O IE centres, that increase s the access of countries to essential l aboratory serv ices, and enables voice and contribution by international experts and research institutions To assist this, it is proposed that FAO establishes a ”FMD unit” (name to be decided) to provide technical support and coordination of its efforts on FMD, comprising EUFMD and EMPRES human resources, and operating in close as sociation with t he OIE-FA O FMD Reference Laboratory network . The objectiv es of the F MD unit, in line with the mandates of EMPRES, EC TA D and EUF MD, and supported technically from reference laboratories and reference centres, are suggested to be:

• to enable dev elopment and monitoring of regional risk reduction programs, through support and co-ordination of disease intelligence efforts • to support dev elopment and co-ordination of “”transboundary F MD risk reduction programs”” ( efforts to promote FMD control in the endemic areas)

Proposal; Under the global co-ordination component of the FAO-O IE GF -TADS ,

• the GF-T A DS Steering Committee, tak ing into consideration the range of stak eholder interest and feasibil ity , decides on along the global risk reduction pathway –from control towards eradication; • FAO strengthens its support to dev elop, promote and assist i mplementation of

“”transboundary F MD risk reduction programs””;( efforts to promote FMD control in the endemic areas) • OIE strengthens its s upport on network ing of the F MD Reference C entres (O IE/FAO FMD

Reference Laboratory network), to improv e access to quality and standardised lab serv ices • The FMD research community is enga ged and it s efforts are promoted, towards the dev elopment and testing of new technical tools

FAO: • A t HQ lev el, establi shes an F MD unit (task force) comprising EMPRES, GLEW S, ECTA D , and

EUF MD specialist officers and support staff ; • Produces, at y early interv al or as required, international progress reports along the global

F MD risk reduction pathway • Co-ordinates a t HQ lev el the dev elopment and implementa tion (through the RA HC or other partners) of FMD risk monitoring programs in the endemic regions; • dev elops national F MD risk reduction strategies , including project dev elopment and advocacy as required to fit for the regional or country needs Proposed Objectives - FAO FMD unit (HQ)

• To improv e the quantity and quality of information and analy sis that will assi st global F MD risk asse ssment, including co-ordination of strategic F MD field studies imple mented with or through the regional animal health centres; • To improv e the quality and timeliness of early warning message s, through the joint O IE-FA-

W HO GLEW S initiativ e; • To prov ide information and technical opinion to improv e the targeting of activ ities and resources to address gaps in surv eillance, particularly in the endemic regions; • To prov ide information to assist adv ocacy for additional resources and actions in those regions prov iding significant risk of FMD spread; • To improv e the information base on which to design rational national and regional control programmes, especia lly the design of v accination programmes in endemic and high risk areas

Resources, that EMPRE S/EUFMD can provide now : - F rom RP (P5-Juan), plus 10-50% time of 4 others (P5, P4, P3, A PO ). o Supports sample shipment program o Continues support contract to FAO W RL - F rom EUF MD (P5 -Keith), APO (Tom), plus GS, (subject to EUF MD Commission ratifica tion at

General Session) o Support routine technical meetings, including the Research group of the Standing Technical C ommittee , and increases engagement of external epidemiology expertise o Supports laboratory network (contract to prov ide global EQA serv ices, v ia FAO World reference laboratory )

- F rom EUF MD/EC o Requests EC support to o continues support to sample shipment to W RL F MD reference serv ices o support surv eillance actions in A frica (horn/east and sahel) under new EC/FAO agreement for in country actions in European risk zones, o as a re sult, initiate regional F MD risk monitoring programs (at lea st west A frica, east A frica, Iran/west A sia) Decision points:

- internal management; (manager, Juan Lubroth, deputy, Keith Sumption?) if so, clearance from the EUF MD Executiv e (January 07) that they approv e this form of contribution to the F AO effort on F MD is needed.

Prov ided this occurs, then activ ities could begin, with EUFMD inv olv ement being subject to fav ourable outcome at the next EUF MD General Session (April 2007). The rolling 2 y ear cy cle is suggested for the life span and rev iew of the F MD unit –in line with EUF MD procedures.