ITEM 8. INTERNATIONAL FMD SURVEILLANCE NETWORKING

A concept note was presented (Appendix 13) for continued support from EuFMD, in the form of a twinning project with a European Laboratory, enabling continued upgrading of lab capacity, linkage with European NRLs, and for further evaluation of the SMS reporting system.

Discussion

Wide support was indicated, from the WRL, on the importance of Egypt in the region; it was confirmed that Egyptian parties are very keen to continue the collaboration.

Conclusion The concept note should be further developed to a project proposal and submitted to the EC for potential funding through the Trust Fund. under the EuFMD/EC.

ITEM 8. International FMD surveillance networking

African proximity FMD surveillance Dr BenYoussef (EuFMD) presented a review of the support provided in period 2006-9 to improve sample submission/threat detection in the African proximity. The review had been discussed by a working group at the Research Group Session in Slovenia, and their recommendations presented to the Executive Committee (Appendix 14). The support had been provided through Letters of Agreement (LoA), the usual FAO contractual arrangement with non-profit organisations, to conduct sampling in the field, initial local typing, and submission of samples to the WRL for molecular typing and vaccine matching. Support had been provided to laboratories in Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia to collect and submit samples. The average cost of this support, in terms of new FMDV isolates reported by the WRL, was between 780-1250 US$ per new FMDV sequence reported. This figure includes all field work and transport costs; a relatively low cost given that transport alone can cost between 2 and 5,000$ per shipment. An agreement with a laboratory in Ivory Coast to organize collection/shipment from Niger and Mali had not been able to be implemented because of lack of uptake of the funds provided through FAO. The WRL and the Research Group recommendations were to continue the small grants program, to address the gaps in West Africa, and to improve quality of the proposed studies by having a European NRL partner and epidemiology partner for each proposal. If possible, the opportunity should be taken to promote monitoring actions by the countries in line with PCP Stage 1, enabling incidence in risk populations to be measured, giving an overall better assessment of risk from these countries.

In discussion, the importance of continuation was supported by the EC and by France. Where possible, greater efficiency (reduced cost per sample) should be sought, possibly using new approaches including targeting collection to markets, and swab collection.

Conclusion

The necessity of continued monitoring for FMDV threat detection in the African proximity was endorsed.

Recommendations

The Secretariat should prepare a project document setting out the objectives, proposed management system for awarding, monitoring and valuating the small grants program. The inclusion of European partners for each proposal was supported, to improve quality, relevance and experience of each party in FMDV monitoring; the WRL should remain the main recipient for samples for vaccine matching.