Current FMD and similar transboundary diseases situation Turkey, Israel and Georgia

Presenters: Tengiz Chaligava (Georgia), Michel Bellaiche (Israel), Naci Bulut (Turkey) (Appendix 6)

Key Messages

1. In the past two years, outbreaks of FAST diseases, except RVF, have been reported from Turkey and Israel.

2. Georgia, Turkey and Israel have conducted risk-based surveillance and control for FAST diseases.

3. Georgia and Turkey are leading countries in the FMD PCP of the West Eurasian Roadmap; both countries aim to progress to PCP stage 3 in the near future.

4. The reduced resources for FAST surveillance and control in some of the countries neighbouring Turkey and Israel combined with conflicts in some areas can increase the risk of disease introduction in both countries.

Summary

Turkey and Georgia are currently in PCP stage 2. Georgia has submitted its Official Control Programme to progress to PCP stage 3 to the GF-TADs FMD Working Group. Turkey has increased its control and surveillance measures to comply with PCP stage 3 requirements.

No outbreaks of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Sheep and Goat Pox (SGP) Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) Rift Valley fever (RVF) and Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) have been reported in Georgia in the past two years. Vaccinations are conducted against FMD, PPR and LSD. Georgia follows a risk-based FMD control strategy and has been implementing risk-based vaccination since 2017. The entire population of cattle and small ruminants of eastern Georgia is considered at high risk of FMD and therefore regularly vaccinated. In western Georgia, vaccination is targeted to FMD risk hotspots, i.e. proximity to live animal markets, migrating herds and flocks, and borders with Turkey and conflict territories.

Outbreaks of FMD, PPR, SGP, and LSD were reported in the Anatolian part of Turkey and in Israel in the past biennium, while RVF and BEF have not been reported in Turkey. BEF was frequently diagnosed in Israel, while LSD was last reported in 2019. None of the FAST diseases were reported from Turkish Thrace in the past two years; here, FMD risk-based surveillance is supported by EuFMD.

Both Turkey and Israel conducted FAST diseases surveillance and vaccination programs, emergency vaccines against RVF are kept in stock by Israel.

The reduced resources for FAST surveillance and control in some of the countries neighbouring Turkey and Israel combined with conflicts in some areas is considered a risk of disease introduction for both countries.

Discussion

The three countries have FAST monitoring and control measures in place, but there are significant risks of FAST disease introduction into these countries.

EuFMD's support in monitoring and controlling FAST diseases as well as training is greatly appreciated.

Georgia has submitted its Official Control Programme in order to progress to PCP stage 3 before the EuFMD General Session, also thanks to the FMD PCP support from EuFMD. Turkey is currently working on its Official Control Programme and is implementing increasingly stringent FMD control measures.

Conclusion

There is a strong need to continue and further develop support for FAST risk reduction programme in EuFMD neighbouring countries (surveillance, control, and training) and the wider region.