a roadmap

FMD control in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan; progress of the EUFMD/EC supported programme of in the buffer zone

A progress report was delivered by the Secretary (Appendix 13). Following the 75th Session, the EC had agreed to provide financial support to maintain the BZ and provide allied epidemiology and seromonitoring support in the period to mid-2009. Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) had been prepared for agreement with each country; to date, only Armenia had signed the MOU; in Georgia, the signature was put on hold until a decision had been made in the country on continuation of any form of FMD vaccination; a decision to maintain the BZ was made in April, and signature of the MOU is expected imminently. In Azerbaijan, the MOU had first to be translated into Azeri, but signature was expected. Monthly reports are provided by three national consultants, under guidance of an international consultant (Carsten Potszch). The risk situation foreseen in 2008 relates to declining immunity (mainly in calves) following spring vaccination, while animals are in the border zone, and the lack of immunity in Georgia because of failure of authorities to vaccinate animals in 2007. In 2008, the latter had decided to use EuFMD/EC vaccine provided in 2007, and to keep the 2008 EuFMD/EC tranche of vaccine in store at supply (at FGI-ARRIAH) in case of emergency. A change in vaccination delivery system (from contract to local authority responsibility) is expected to improve timing and extent of vaccination, and enable emergency campaigns if required. The project was also in the process of establishing laboratory capacity in Armenia and Azerbaijan for sero-monitoring. Problems remaining difficulties to confirm FMDV and the extreme difficulty to ship samples to western European laboratories. As a result, penside tests (LFDs) would be provided to each country and sero-diagnostic capacity (at least NSP-ELISA) established within 2008. The Committee noted the progress made and expressed appreciation to the EC for the support. FMD control in Iran; progress of the EUFMD/EC supported programme to improve FMD surveillance and control The progress report is provided in Appendix 14. Since the 75th Session, a 15-month programme of activities had been agreed with EC (to use savings from Phase I) and an MOU and project document negotiated with the Iranian veterinary organization (IVO). The content was agreed in April, but the MOU had not yet been signed. The aim of the programme was to support decision making by the national FMD task force through use of improved virus typing (local and international) and for the first time, sero-monitoring after vaccination, with focus on the impact of vaccination in the border region with Turkey/Azerbaijan/Armenia. Dr Francis Geiger had returned to a full time role in France but had been released by the French Government to FAO on a short term basis as advisor and would visit Iran three times per year, with EUFMD staff or consultants, to support implementation of activities. Conclusion

1. The Committee noted the progress to implement Phase II, but urged improvement to the reporting of virus typing conducted in country and by the WRL, to assist detection of significant changes. Syria The project document (presented at 75th ExC) and MOU had been agreed with the Syrian authorities and signed on 12th May. The main activity is to support sero-surveillance, and field activities had not been started, pending recruitment of consultants, and laboratory support (from a European NRL). The Chairman requested a more detailed follow-up report at the 77th ExC. ITEM 8. LONG TERM STRATEGY FOR FMD CONTROL IN WEST EURASIA; DEVELOPMENT OF A ROADMAP

This item was introduced by Dr Domenech, FAO. In 2005-7, the region from Pakistan to Turkey, Kazakhstan to Egypt, had been affected by epidemic of the new type O PanAsia II virus, affecting almost all countries, and type A Iran 05, involving Pakistan to western Turkey and parts of the middleeast. This epidemic region could be called “West EurAsia”, and involved countries in the European, Middle-east and Asian regions of OIE and FAO. He summarized the synergy between FAO programmes in the epidemiologic region, particularly the Italian funded GTFS/INT/907/ITA (Appendix 15), working in Pakistan/Afghanistan/Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan/Tajikistan, and the EUFMD/EC programmes in Turkey, Caucasus, Syria and Iran. Other donors/agencies were also involved, for example the US

76th Session of the Executive Committee of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease 4