Early reaction means carrying out without delay the disease control activities needed to contain the outbreak and then to eliminate the disease and infection in the shortest possible time and in the most cost-effective way, or at least to return to the status quo and to provide the objective, scientific evidence that one of these objectives has been attained.

The emphasis here has been on promoting the principles of contingency planning and emergency preparedness in order to have a capability for rapid response to a disease incursion.

Contingency planning guides have been prepared both for generic plans and especially for rinderpest, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, foot-and-mouth diseases, Rift Valley fever and African swine fever.

Workshops on contingency planning have been conducted in Africa, Central Europe and Asia

EMPRES Early Reaction activities:

ECTAD has been established to enhance the operational efficiency and efficacy of the EMPRES-Livestock programme in addressing the needs of member countries in combating epidemic infectious animal diseases, some which may be of public health concern. ECTAD has been established in the context of FAO's reaction to the avian influenza crisis in Asia and therefore focuses, at this stage, on this disease; the Centre is intended, however, to provide the operational platform for FAO's action for improved surveillance and response to priority transboundary animal diseases worldwide.

Upon request of member countries and following a disease emergency, EMPRES programme also provides technical guidance on Early Reaction activities through Technical Cooperation Programme projects.

Several EMPRES workshops to develop expertise in emergency preparedness procedures have been held for Chief Veterinary Officers (Directors of Veterinary Services) and other senior animal health staff. These have been directed at regions addressing groups of countries sharing similar transboundary disease threats and have been held in collaboration with partner organisations. Rinderpest has been the prime focus but due account has been taken of other regional priorities such as foot-and-mouth disease in South East Asia and Central Europe, for example. In addition to specific stand-alone workshops, the opportunity has been taken to append sessions on emergency preparedness planning onto workshops or meetings held for other purposes.

Contingency planning guides have been prepared both for generic plans and especially for rinderpest, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, foot-and-mouth diseases, Rift Valley fever and African swine fever.