Appendix 15
Support to Government of Turkey in FMD surveillance and control EUFMD (EC Trust Fund)
1. Background: followed supply of vaccine by EC to Turkey via the EUFMD TF, against shortfall in the autumn 2006 production; following the 2006 Tripartite meeting, this vaccine was mainly kept as an emergency reserve for use in period following the Kurban festival. 2. In order to prioritize vaccine use and to assess risk of extension of outbreaks, EC agreed that there should be accompanying measures to improve investigation of FMD outbreaks in Thrace and other areas , following the time of the Kurban Bayram festival. 3. Anticipated duration of support: 3 months. 4. Activities started: with recruitment of national consultants (2) in January 2007. 5. Outputs: reports of outbreak investigations (Thrace region); GDPC submit these to EC which are then transmitted to the EC MS. Monthly reports on FMD situation and activities, submitted to EU FMD. 6. Extension: since the EC/Turkey FMD programme (national vaccination campaigns) did not begin in April 2007, the consultants were retained; greater focus on training Turkish staff in each region in outbreak investigation. 7. Revision of activity plan and coverage; following a. 37th Session –EUFMD, issues relating to regulatory control and practical measures to reducing risk of spread of FMD along the market chain from east to west. b. Request from GDPC for assistance in designing a surveillance programme for monitoring the progress of FMD control in Anatolia (as well as Thrace region). c. Mission of EUFMD Research Group epidemiologists (Mark Bronsvoort, Ian Handel, Tom Murray). d. A revised activity plan was submitted to EC for support through the TF. 8. Current situation: a. Currently 4 national consultants on outbreak investigation, one principal and three secondary (Thrace, central Anatolia and eastern Anatolia); until end of December 2007. b. Study on animal markets and market chain in Anatolia underway - One national consultant. Outcome to be reviewed to prioritize measures to reduce risk at each point of the movement from the east-west. c. Pilot study on use of markets and slaughterhouses to monitor immunity in traded/finished animals underway. d. Sero-surveillance in Thrace: samples collected, undertesting at SAP Insitute. No report yet. e. Optimization of surveillance in Thrace region; work underway but workshop dates not yet fixed. 9.
Outlook: a. To finish and review activities by end of March 2008 (supporting start of EC/Turkey programme of vaccination in April 2008). b. EUFMD have been invited to attend EC/Turkey FMD project task force meetings (by GDPC Turkey). c. Gaps foreseen after March 2008: i. epidemiology support, best on a continuing basis with a regional EUFMD epidemiologist (Ankara); ii. need to improve management of vaccination and sero-surveillance information across the region (Caucasus, Turkey, Iran, Syria); recruit a data management consultant in Turkey. d. To improve linkage with the Research group, establish a “Turkey support working group” as part of the EUFMD Research Group.
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