EUFMD 

33rd Session

Report

Appendix 01

Appendix 02

Appendix 03

Appendix 04

Appendix 05

Appendix 06

Appendix 07

Appendix 09

Appendix 10

Appendix 11

Appendix 12

Appendix 13

Appendix 14

Appendix 15

Appendix 16

Appendix 17

Appendix 18

Appendix 19

Appendix 20

Appendix 21

Appendix 5 - FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IN MOROCCO

1. The suspicion

The first case of foot-and-mouth disease was suspected on the 25/02/1999, in the province of Oujda, five days after its declaration in Algeria. Clinical signs and lesions typical of foot-and-mouth disease were observed in a 24 months old bullock in the municipal slaughter-house of the town of Oujda.

2. Diagnosis

The virus responsible was isolated by the national laboratory for biological production (Biopharma) on vesicular samples taken from suspect animals. Isolation was carried out on cell cultures and a cytopathogenic effect typical of foot-and-mouth disease virus was in evidence. Serotyping was carried out by the technique of sero-neutralisation. It was serotype O similar to the virus that had appeared in Algeria. Confirmation was also made by the World Reference Laboratory, Pirbright and the investigations relating to the sub-type are underway (Fax from Dr. MacKay on 14/3/99).

3. The Origin

The situation of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Algeria, the geographical location of the outbreaks detected in Morocco, the nature of the animals affected and the chronology of the appearance of the suspect cases are the elements which would plead in favour of an introduction of Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus from Algerian territory by butchers bullocks probably in an illegal manner.

4. The Evolution

4.1 The chronology

The first cases of foot-and-mouth disease were declared on the 25/02/99 in the province of Oujda.

Two days later (27/02/99), two new outbreaks occurred in cattle sheds belonging to traders located in the centre of the town of Oujda (same location as the first outbreak).

The total number of cases detected in the eight outbreaks declared between February 27 and March 14, rose to 14 cattle, entirely belonging to traders whose cattle sheds were located around the municipal slaughter-house in Oujda.

The inspections carried out on the whole of the national territory did not reveal different outbreaks and a lull of approximately two weeks was observed until the appearance of the disease in the provinces of Khouribga and Beni Mellal (centre of the Kingdom) on March 31 and April 3, 1999 respectively. The origin of these appearances, approximately 600 km from the primary outbreak, was probably due to conveyance by cattle trucks bringing livestock from the provinces of the east of the country at the time of the festival of Aid Al Adha.

The last case dates from the 03/04/1999.

4.2 Number of Cases and Outbreaks

From the appearance of the disease and until April 3, 1999, 11 cases were declared in eight cattle holdings totalling 153 cattle of which 32 showed clinical signs of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

Almost all of the animals affected are bovine males aged between 12 and 24 months.

Summary chart of the outbreaks:

5. Measures Taken

5.1 Before confirmation : The alert and the mobilisation

• Meeting of the national committee of vigilance against Foot-and-Mouth Disease to adopt suitable control measures.
• Reinforcement of monitoring along the border with Algeria in collaboration with the local authorities and the Royal Gendarmerie.
• Launching of broad inspections in the Eastern region and in the neighbouring regions.
• Establishment of provincial committees of vigilance against Foot-and-Mouth Disease in all the provinces of the Kingdom.
• Mobilisation of the available security stocks of anti-FMD vaccine (600 000 doses of type O Manisa).

5.2 After Confirmation

* Sanitary Measures

• Delimitation of the infected area’s perimeters by gubernatorial decree (provinces of Oujda, Khouribga and Beni Mellal)
• Restriction of animal movements inside the infected area’s perimeters with the closure of livestock markets and prohibition of gatherings of susceptible animals.
• Destruction of the affected animals and slaughter of the in-contact animals with disinfection and incineration of the manure of the cattle sheds concerned. To date, 153 cattle were slaughtered of which 32 were destroyed with compensation for the owners.

• The immediate destruction and burial on-the-spot of any susceptible animal intercepted close to the borders and which could have been introduced illegally across the borders. The number of animals intercepted and destroyed since the appearance of the epizootic (25/02/99) rose to 150 sheep.

* Obligatory Vaccination

Given that cattle were subject to annual vaccination against Foot-and-Mouth Disease type O from 1992 to December 1997, that a blanket of protective immunity already existed in cattle and that the Direction de l’Elevage had a security stock (vaccine of serotype O Manisa), immediate vaccination of cattle was launched in the provinces bordering Algeria (Oujda, Berkane, Figuig, Jerrada, Errachidia and Ouarzazate).

This vaccination was extended also to the buffer zone made up of the provinces bordering on those mentioned above (Taza, Taounate, Fès, Al Hoceima, Boulemane and Nador).

In addition, and following the appearance of outbreaks away from the primary zone of infection in Oujda, immediate generalisation of the vaccination campaign to cover the national cattle population was rapidly initiated in all the provinces of the Kingdom and was reinforced in the buffer zone and in the northern provinces in order to avoid the extension of the infection.

At present, 1 125 000 doses of homologous anti-FMD vaccine have been distributed to the entire veterinary services. Further distributions will be released according to the calendar indicated hereafter:

• 400 000 doses, on the 22/04/99
• 1 000 000 doses, on the 26/04/99.

To this day, more than 1 000 000 cattle have been vaccinated against Foot-and-Mouth Disease since the beginning of vaccination.

All the necessary provisions were taken for completion of the vaccination campaign before May 10, 1999 and will cover more than 2 500 000 cattle; that is to say a vaccination coverage of more than 85% of the national herd.

An booster campaign for young cattle (30% of the national herd) will be launched on the completion of the generalised vaccination campaign.

* Surveillance Established

Serological Survey

A serosurvey undertaken on a representative sample of the cattle population after the appearance of the first outbreaks, revealed, by the seroneutralisation technique in cell cultures, that on average 60% of cattle still had antibodies at a protective level against FMD infection (titres > 1,9 Log Dn50). In the light of the results obtained, anti-FMD vaccination was launched in the regions where weak levels of protective antibodies were observed (haouz, gharb, sidi kacem, tadla, beni mellal) and will also concern young animals not having been the subject of former vaccinations.

In addition, it is envisaged that an epidemiological investigation will be conducted after the completion of the vaccination campaign in order to evaluate the protection acquired by the national cattle population against this disease

Inspections and Surveillance of susceptible species

Reinforcement of the system of epidemio-surveillance for the disease on all the national territory. Launching of prospective investigations on a grand scale on all of the wilayas and provinces of the Kingdom. The total number of inspected animals, to date, amounts to 55% of the national livestock population susceptible to Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

© European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Back to Animal Health Pages