Rapports, Archives: 33rd session - Appendix 1
FMD situation in Europe and in other regions in 1997, 1998 and in first quarter of 1999
Introduction
No outbreaks had occurred in the European territory since the end of November 1996, when one outbreak due to type O was reported in the village of Malko Sharkovo, Bulgaria at the border with Turkey.
However the threat of introduction of FMD into Europe from Turkey and the Middle East persists. The virus continued to be present in Middle East, in Turkey and sporadic cases are reported the Caucasian region from time to time.
This paper is intended to review the situation in theses regions where virus persists and continues to threat Europe.
Serosurvey in the Balkans
During the period May-August 1996 an epizootic of foot-and-mouth disease type A occurred in the Balkan region, affecting Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYR of Macedonia) and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). The epizootic was brought under control by either a slaughter policy alone (FRY) or by a slaughter policy combined with vaccination (Albania and FYR of Macedonia). The European Union provided assistance to the control program through the supply of vaccine and expert advice. In July 1997 the Commission of the European Communities passed Commission Decision 97/432/EC providing assistance to the three countries involved to carry out a serological survey with the following objectives.
-
to assess the level and distribution of antibodies to FMD virus type A resulting from previous infection and/or vaccination.
-
to determine the geographical extent of past or present infection with FMD virus type A.
-
to determine whether or not FMD virus continued to circulate in the region.
-
to evaluate under field conditions newly developed ELISA's which measure antibody to the non-structural (NS) proteins of FMD virus. Antibody to NS proteins can be used as an indirect marker of infection with FMD virus, irrespective of whether or not animals have been previously vaccinated.
The conclusion of the serosurvey are as follows:
-
The survey detected no evidence of the circulation of FMD virus in the FYR of Macedonia since 1996 and in Albania since 1997.
-
There was no evidence in either country of virus activity during the course of the surveys.
-
In the FR of Yugoslavia no evidence was found for FMD viral activity, either present or past.
-
NS protein antibody tests were useful for the detection of viral activity in vaccinated populations.
-
Their use is recommended as part of future serological surveys for FMD.
-
In surveys to detect viral activity following outbreaks, it is important that the age of the animals sampled is recorded since accurate ageing is essential to enable a full interpretation of the results.
Middle East
The uncontrollable movement of livestock between countries of the middle east - in particular the herds and flocks of the nomadic people - make it difficult for any country in isolation to control FMD effectively. With the exception of Israel, FMD control is sporadic and directed mainly towards dairy herds.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia annually imports approximately 6.5 million live animals (mainly sheep and goats) from many countries including African and Asian countries that are not free of FMD. These animals bring in their own strains which then spread to local herds and flocks. Within Saudi Arabia, there is a highly sophisticated dairy industry with imported dairy cows of high productivity. Despite regular vaccination, sometimes every 10 weeks with up to 7 strains, vaccinated herds are from time to time severely affected with FMD. The policy is now one of preventing entry of the virus to the farm by strict security measures, with a reliance on vaccine as a second line of defence. Type O was isolated in 1997 and 12 strains of virus, all of type O have been isolated in 1998.
Israel
The last outbreak of FMD in Israel was in July 1996. No outbreak of FMD was reported in 1997 and 1998. Two outbreaks linked together and due to virus type O1 has been reported in January 1999 in Akko and Tsefat districts, in the north of the country in a herd of 90 grazing beef cattle and in a 10 month old heifer previously vaccinated in November 1998.
The present policy of the Veterinary Service is to vaccinate annually all cattle above the age of 3 months during October to December with a trivalent vaccine (O1, A22, Asia 1) . Booster vaccination is carried out in cattle younger than 18 months, 8 to 12 weeks after their initial vaccination. Calves born after the general vaccination period are vaccinated when 3 month old within a secondary scheme. Vaccination also covers the entire national sheep and goat population with a monovalent (O) vaccine without a booster. Based upon the antigenic analysis of past isolates, the O component of the vaccine used includes the O Manisa and O Geshur Strains. Since 1998, strain A Iran 1996 is also incorporated in the vaccine together with A22 strain.
The effectiveness of the vaccine used is evaluated by the results of the ongoing monitoring programme which has been operational since 1992. It includes six dairy farms scattered throughout the country. On each farm , 30 animals in three age-groups are sampled twice a year for a SNT evaluation of their immunity against current Middle Eastern strains of A22, O and Asia 1. In 1997, sheep were added to the acquired immunity monitoring programme. It is carried out 3 months post vaccination, in sheep flocks located in 4 districts. 10 sheep from each flock are serologically tested for the current regional FMD O strain. This monitoring is planned to be continued. Vaccination is compulsory and liable to State fees paid by the owners. In 1997, 400 823 vaccinations of cattle with a trivalent vaccine were carried out, as well as 398,717 monovalent (O) vaccinations in small ruminants.
Jordan
Foot and Mouth disease has been endemic in cattle and small ruminants in Jordan for many years. Intensive cattle are vaccinated 2 to 3 times annually. 50380 cattle and 200 000 sheep and goats were vaccinated in 1997. No outbreaks were reported in 1997.
The first reported suspect cases of FMD for 1998/9 were on November 23 in Irbid Governorate situated close to the Syrian and Israeli borders. Since then more than 20 outbreaks were reported by the State veterinarians. All these outbreaks have been north and east of Amman as well as around the city. Animals on 16 farms with clinical lesions consistent with FMD were submitted to Kimron Veterinary Institute, Israel. Samples from 8 farms were positive for O1 type FMD and included both cattle and small ruminants. Losses were high in calves ,lambs and kids, but very few adult animals were lost. Control measures included ring vaccination,(using in stock vaccine), isolation of clinically affected animals, disinfection and general advice to farmers on preventing young animals from suckling. Media publicity was also undertaken. Following an emergency declaration, an additional 1 million doses of vaccine were purchased by the Ministry of Agriculture and distributed to affected areas.
Lebanon
A significant number of live animals (up to 300,000 head of cattle and 1 million head of small ruminants) are imported every year for slaughter from different countries not all of which are free of FMD and therefore FMD is permanently reintroduced. The disease affects mainly the imported livestock of different origins that are kept together before slaughter. The population of local livestock is estimated to be 45,000 cattle ² mainly dairy- and 750,000 small ruminants. It is partially vaccinated and rarely infected. Dairy cattle are vaccinated twice a year: 17,926 cattle and 30,437 small ruminants were vaccinated in 1997 using a trivalent O, Asia 1, A22 vaccine.
Gulf countries, Arabic peninsula
FMD continues to be endemic in Kuwait. 21 outbreaks due to type O were reported in cattle in 1997. One outbreak of type O has been reported in May 1998 in a dairy herd and in sheep despite recent vaccinations. In July 1998 it was reported that FMD had moved from Iraq to Kuwait ( and to Saudi Arabia as there is a great deal of nomadic movements across the Saudi-Koweit border). In majority of FMD outbreaks clinical disease was preceded by movement of sheep onto the farm. 7 FMD outbreaks were reported in Qatar in1998. Types O and A were isolated in Yemen. 170 cases of FMD were clinically diagnosed in Barhain in December 1998 in three separate outbreaks in cattle and sheep.
Iraq
Iraq has contacted FAO in December 1998 to report that FMD had occurred since the beginning of November 1998 and that they urgently needed to vaccinate. Due to the political ban imposed by the UN, the provision of vaccine to Iraq is authorised only after acceptation of the sanction committee and FAO is arranging for a vaccination campaign.
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) infected several governorates in Iraq including the Northern and Western Governorates (Governorate of Anbar at Al-Rutba District located near the borders of Jordan and Saudia Arabia).15 outbreaks were initially reported (of 2000-5000 head/herd), i.e. a total of 30.000-75.000animals involved.
The disease then spread to the rest of the country. The mortality rate was 10-15% among young lamb. The morbidity rate reported for sheep in the Central and Southern Iraq was approximately 11% and the mortality rate was 0.53%. However, the morbidity rate recorded for cattle was 3.2% and the mortality rate was 0.24% 80% of the introduced cattle was found infected and 50% mortality among young lamb in Dohuk and Erbil governorates. This is the first record of manifestation of this disease in Iraq as related to sheep and goats.
The last figure of 10 January 1999 indicated that 50,678 cattle and 982,309 small ruminant have been infected in 13 Governorates with a mortality of 3832 (7,5%) and 48089 (4.9%) respectively. There is a high risk of spread to other Governorates and neighbouring countries.
Iran
Types A and O are regularly isolated. A new variant of type A was identified in 1996. Pirbright FMD World Reference Laboratory indicated that type A 22 vaccine offered no cross protection against this new variant. Iran started to produce vaccine against the new variant in 1997. In 1998 similar type A strains have been identified in Turkey and in Armenia
369 outbreaks were reported in Iran in 1997 including 297 outbreaks in cattle and 72 outbreaks in sheep and goats from different parts of the country in unvaccinated herds. In April 1998, 17 outbreaks of FMD were reported in 10 of the 26 Provinces of Iran.
Dairy cattle are vaccinated preventively and sheep and goats are vaccinated when there are outbreaks. The quantity of vaccine produced does not meet the needs for the country. In total, 4,534,736 large ruminants and 11,162,582 small ruminants were vaccinated in 1997 with bivalent locally produced vaccine.
In April 1998 17 outbreaks of FMD has been reported in 10 of the 26 Provinces of Iran.
AFRICA
North Africa
Situation up to 1999
Morocco
The last case was reported in September 1992 in Settat Province (Central region). 1 265 000 cattle (51% of the total population) were vaccinated in 1997 with a monovalent type O vaccine.
A serosurvey carried out in 1997 demonstrated that there was no circulation of FMDV in small ruminants. Therefore Morocco can be considered as free of disease. Based on these results vaccination has been abandoned since 1998.
Algeria
No FMD has been reported since December 1992. 54 and 34 type O outbreaks were reported respectively in 1991 and 1992. Preventive vaccination continue to be carried out in the border areas considered to be at risk. 8 931 cattle and 107 098 small ruminants have been vaccinated in 1997.
Tunisia
FMD has not been reported since August 1994. Susceptible animals are vaccinated yearly, small ruminants with monovalent type O vaccine and large ruminants with trivalent (O, A, C types) vaccine. 296,229 cattle, 3,378,284 small ruminants and 7,976 camels have been vaccinated in 1997.
Libya
Two type O outbreaks were reported in 1994. FMD affected small ruminants with high mortality in new-born lambs - two to four weeks old - in January in the Eastern part of Lybia (Ejdabia area). Preventive vaccination of bovine herds twice a year is practised since 1996. 70,000 head of cattle were vaccinated in 1997.
Egypt
Type O is predominant. Sporadic cases of mild forms of FMD appeared in 5 Governorates in 1997. There is a policy of vaccination of dairy animals every 4 months and fattening steers every 6 months using locally prepared O type vaccine. In 1997, 4 609 987 large ruminants and 5 162 353 small ruminants and 180 626 camels were vaccinated against FMD. Surveillance is done to assess the immune status after vaccination campaigns. The main problem is the quantity of the vaccine. A new quality control laboratory ($ 2.2 Million) has been completed with the support of EU in Abasia. Modern technology including molecular biology (PCR, nucleic acid probes and synthesis of nucleotide primers) is used.
1999 epidemic in Maghreb
An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, type O, has been developing in North Africa since the 20th February 1999. The disease was first reported in Algeria where it spread quickly from the east to the west of the country. Isolated outbreaks of the disease have also occurred in Tunisia and Morocco. Until now, the disease has mainly affected cattle (more particularly beef cattle) and vaccination campaigns organised within the three countries should prevent its spread.
Genetic characterisation carried out by the FAO/OIE World Reference Laboratory for FMD in Pirbright, UK, has shown a close relationship between the strain isolated during this outbreak and strains previously isolated in C¡te d'Ivoire and Ghana, indicating that the virus is most likely of West African origin. A meeting of the CVOs of the three countries concerned has been held in Tunis on 9 March 1999 with the participation of FAO, OIE, EC and the WRL. (see Item 2 : Foot-and Mouth Disease situation in North Africa as of 29th March 1999).
West Africa
FMD type A has been isolated by the WRL from samples received Mali, Mauritania and Senegal In 1997. The isolates from Senegal are genetically different of other recent isolates in Africa. Type O has been identified in Côte d’Ivoire.
In 1998, type A was isolated in Gambia
East Africa
SAT2 virus has been isolated in Rwanda in 1997. FMD type O has been reported Uganda in Zebu in February 1998, type A and SAT 2 in Eritrea in December 1997 and January 1998. In 1998 Type O was isolated in Tanzania and Rwanda.
Southern Africa
In 1997, one outbreak due to SAT2 occurred in cattle in Zimbabwe in a zone adjacent to Buffalo game park despite a double fence. The same strain of virus was isolated from buffaloes and it is likely that antelopes crosses the fence and transported the virus from Buffalo to cattle.
One outbreak due to SAT1 type was reported in Impala in Kruger and adjacent game parks in June in South Africa in 1998. The origin is also Buffalo. These two individual outbreaks did not prevent South Africa, and Zimbabwe to continue to have a favourable situation of FMD together with Namibia and Botswana.
FMD has been reported in November 1998 Malawi where it spread from a neighbouring country where it was reported in August 1998.
Situation in LATIN AMERICA
The situation in South America continued to improve in 1998. Last case of FMD was reported in 1990 in Uruguay, in October 1994 in Paraguay. Argentina and Paraguay have remained free (with vaccination) and the southern two states of Brazil have been recognised free ( with vaccination). In 1997 FMD type O and A were reported in Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador but the number of outbreaks diminished in comparison with previous years There has been generally a large reduction in reported outbreaks in other South American countries. Argentine has announced that they will cease vaccinating against FMD at the end of April 1999.
Vesicular diseases outbreaks in South America in 1997 (FMD and Vesicular Stomatitis)
Country |
Outbreaks (infected herds) in 1997 |
Bolivia |
27 ( FMD) |
Brazil |
197 (FMD) |
Columbia |
698 (FMD+VS) |
Ecuador |
148 (FMD+VS) |
Peru |
25 (FMD+VS) |
Venezuela |
51 (FMD+VS) |
Total |
1146 |
ASIA
A severe FMD epizootic due to type O has hit the pig industry in Taiwan Province of China during 1997 with important economic losses. The disease which had not been reported since 1930 was introduced in March 1997 probably through the illegal import of live pig or pork products by fishing boats. 6 156 outbreaks were reported between March and July, only in pigs. A generalised vaccination campaign has been carried out and all animals of susceptible species have been destroyed in the infected farms. 9 additional outbreaks were reported in December 1997.
In 1997 FMD was endemic in Bengladesh, India, Myammar, Laos, Cambodia. Type O has been isolated in Afghanistan, Bengladesh, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines. Type A has been isolated in India and Peninsular Malaysia and Asia 1 in India, Malaysia and Nepal. A control programme in South East Asia is in progress. Disease continue to be endemic and progress are slow despite the efforts of international organisation in the region. The recent isolates from Cambodia and Vietnam have been charactererized by the WRL. The group of isolates form a genetically distinct group , different from type O from Thailand and Malaysia and from pig adapted strains from Taiwan and the Philippines.
In 1998 Type A was reported In Malaysia from January to May and in Thailand in October. Type O was reported in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Philippines, Asia 1 in Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. Myammar, Laos and Cambodia currently undertake little FMD control activities. In Vietnam, most of the control activity appears to be along the border with Cambodia. Malaysia appears to have controlled the incursions of FMD by vaccination. The situation in Philippines is characterized by the presence of the pig adapted strain in the areas around Manila. In the rest of Asia, Type O was isolated by the WRL from Bhutan, Hong Kong, Nepal, Pakistan, Taiwan Province of China, type Asia 1 from Pakistan.