Report on the response to the incursion of African serotypes (SAT2 and other serotypes) Dr Ryan provided a summary (Appendix 6) of the actions which had taken place since the 83rd Session in April, in response to the unprecedented incursions of SAT2 and other exotic African FMD lineages into Egypt and Libya. EuFMD had worked throughout with the Crisis Management Centre Animal Health (CMC) and assisted developing the FAO SAT2 crisis management strategy which had been presented at the 83rd Session and had three goals: •
to contain the infection by reducing risk of establishment in the neighbouring territories (i.e. Israel, Palestinian Territories (Gaza), and Tunisia/Algeria); • to reduce the incidence in already affected countries (Egypt, Libya, Gaza), and develop longer term strategies for FMD control along the PCP principles; • to increase awareness and preparedness in at-risk countries in the European neighbourhood (including south and east Mediterranean countries not mentioned above, plus EuFMD MS). The actions taken by EuFMD were co-ordinated with FAO in the Eastern Mediterranean and for subregional actions supported FAO/REMESA/UMA in North Africa (i.e. Egypt/Libya/ Tunisia/ Algeria /Morocco/Mauritania). Of value to all EuFMD countries was the focus on validation of suitable diagnostic assays (by WRL/IZSLER labs in Europe) , including validated SAT2 PCR tests, ELISA kits for antigen detection, and a SAT2 specific pen side test for use by those territories without national laboratories. For the first component EuFMD had organized training in Cyprus for Israel, PAT (Gaza and West Bank), Jordan and Egypt, in June 2012, on design of surveillance programmes for high risk border zones, and a similar workshop (organized by REMESA/UMA in Rabat, Morocco with EuFMD/EC support) in July. The second resulted in a series of agreed actions of the North African countries going beyond the initial SAT2 issue but, on the latter, specific bilateral meetings Tunisia/Libya have resulted in the follow-up. The EuFMD had also provided training in FMD lab diagnostics for Egypt/PAT/Jordan/Libya (in Cairo), for Libya (in Tripoli, establishing ELISA facilities), and Tunisia, Algeria, Lebanon (in Paris, May 2012). Each of the NRLs was supplied with ELISA kits for antigen detection after completing a post-training follow-up action plan agreed at national level. This is a substantial step forward in FMD lab capacity in the at risk countries. Regarding affected countries, the predominant effort has been to assist Egypt, with a series of missions of epidemiologists to better assess the epidemic threat and the planning of national measures; national consultants have provided monthly reports and samples have been sent to WRL. However, there are issues of continuity unless a formalized agreement on project support is agreed (EC/EuFMD/FAO/GOVS); a proposal was submitted to EC in early August on this. Although the SAT2 epidemic has declined sharply, circulation has continued, and endemic SAT2 would remain a risk for the whole region. On the third point, as a result of the great work at WRL and IZSLER, suitable diagnostics have been identified for the region and supplied, benefitting at risk European countries (NRLs need specific, validated tests). The closer work between North Africa and European labs is also significant, and the order (by EuFMD) of SAT2 specific pen side tests brings a new possibility to the diagnostic bank.
th
84 Session of the EuFMD Executive Committee meeting, Pirbright, UK, 4-5 October 2012
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