Rapports, Archives: 33rd session - Appendix 17
Draft guidelines for the assessment of the risk of introduction of FMD into Europe; focusing on the threats associated with tourism and transport and on the preparation of an awareness campaign to decrease these risks.
Yves Leforban, John Ryan
The 32nd Session of the Commission, held in 1997 in Rome, asked the Secretariat of the Commission to prepare a draft of guidelines to prevent the introduction of FMDV by tourists or workers originating in FMD infected countries. These guidelines, after adoption by the Commission, should be used to prepare awareness campaigns targeted at the population concerned in member countries.
Possible places of origin of the virus
All FMD infected countries. Regions classified by order of perceived risk to Europe:
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Middle East
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CIS countries
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North Africa
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Asia
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South America
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Rest of Africa
Possible sources of virus
(classified by decreasing risk)
Live animals
sheep and goats are particularly dangerous as they rarely show symptoms, (wildlife may also be a source of virus, e.g. gazelles in Israel and in Kazakstan, Wild boars in Turkey).
Animal products (see the OIE Code)
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meat on the bone
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milk and milk products
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meat
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game meat
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hides and skins
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other animal products
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trophies
Vehicles
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trucks
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private cars
People
Periods of high risk:
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Peak Tourism period (summer holidays in Europe)
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Return of migrant workers from holidays in their home countries (September)
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Periods of religious festivals (Kurban holidays in Turkey)
Routes of entry
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Places of illegal crossing of terrestrial borders (illegal immigrants from Asiatic countries)
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Ferry boats (+ Cruise boats) between North Africa, Turkey, Black Sea and Europe
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Harbours: special attention should be paid to catering on ships and boats, to duty free shops, free port facilities and all places which are not under the control of national Veterinary Services (e.g. Piraeus in Greece was the port of entry of meat legally imported from India to Albania)
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Trucks: snacks, food and drivers belongings
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Private vehicles
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Airports (while scanning luggage at arrival, it is recommended that meat or at least meat on the bone should be detected - dogs could also be used to detect meat!)
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Yachting harbours (waste food)
Chain of contamination in the country of destination
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contact between infected animals or contaminated products and susceptible animals is required
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garbage in bins along international motorways and highways
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swill distributed to pigs
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contaminated vehicles which have transported infected animals or contaminated products
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the risk associated with external contamination of the vehicle or of the wheels is more limited
Specific threats associated with the situation in Turkey and in the Middle East
FMD continues to be endemic in the Middle East, Iran and Turkey, however the number of outbreaks has decreased in Turkey since 1995. New type A strain outbreaks have been reported in 9 Provinces of Turkey including 3 Provinces in Western Buffer Zone since its introduction. However the propagation of the virus was not as widespread as had been feared. Poor surveillance of FMD in the eastern part of the country may explain the low numbers of outbreaks reported.
Control measures
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The quality of the vaccine used in Turkey is uncertain
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No vaccine available against the new strain in Turkey
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Cattle are not identified
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The movements of animals are not properly controlled
Risk to neighbouring countries
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illegal crossing of the border by susceptible animals
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Populations of Turkish origin living in border areas
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Live animal or meat price differentials can be inductive for illegal importation into Europe
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payment of premium or of compensation in case of disease may also be inceptive to illegal import of live animals
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trucks and private vehicles in transit
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Turkish workers returning to Western Europe after their holidays (may carry fresh food of animal origin for two days of travel)
Risk to other countries in Europe
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Turkish workers returning to Western Europe after their holidays (the risk with fresh food is less important than preserved animal products, or milk products)
- Vehicles
Specific threats associated with the situation in CIS countries
Epidemiological situation
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FMD is present in Armenia and was present in Georgia in 1997, the situation in Asiatic countries is unclear
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New type A strain in Armenia
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Poor surveillance of FMD in Russia and in other counties due to lack of resources
Control measures
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No vaccine available yet, against the new strain in Vladimir Institute Russia
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Free movement of animals and animal products between the CIS countries
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cattle are not identified
Risk to neighbouring countries
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illegal crossing of the border by susceptible animals (sub-clinically infected)
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legal crossing of borders with official certificates but with false or unclear animal origins (or accompanied by forged certificates)
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Live animal or meat price differentials can be inductive for illegal importation into Europe
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payment of premium or of compensation in case of disease may also be inceptive to illegal import of live animals
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trucks and private vehicles in transit
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travellers/truck drivers may carry fresh food of animal origin for two days of travel
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risk of delays in reporting and reacting to an outbreak
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during this period of delay, no restriction measures will be taken at the borders
Risk to other countries in Europe
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workers returning to Western Europe after their holidays (the risk with preserved animal products is less important than with fresh food or milk products)
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Vehicles, trucks coming from Asiatic or Transcaucassian Republics
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Illegal immigrants
Origin of the introductions of FMDV in Europe since 1990
1991 Bulgaria Illegal import of one goat
1993 Bulgaria Illegal crossing of the border by small ruminants
1993 Italy False certification of imported cattle
1994 Greece Illegal import of sheep in Lesbos Island
1996 Albania / FYR of Macedonia Import of meat on bone/or import of live animals from infected country
1996 Greece Illegal immigrants
1996 Bulgaria unknown
Proposal for measures to decrease the risk of introduction of FMDV by tourists and workers
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Awareness campaign with leaflets distributed at the border, one model for people and vehicles entering Europe is attached (Annex I below)
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destruction of animal products on the spot at the terrestrial border
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awareness campaign in airports and harbours on the risk of waste food from planes/boats coming from infected countries. The campaign should be targeted at airline companies, catering companies and airport management companies (model in Annex II)
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training of Veterinary teams at the border
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training of Custom Officers/Police/Border Guards
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Increasing their awareness of the countries with particular risks and reinforcing the controls applying to vehicles and travellers from these countries
- encourage legal trade by simplifying import and testing procedures, and decreasing taxes/excise duties to discourage illegal trade
Tentative text for a leaflet to be distributed to tourists on their return to Europe in their national language + one or several of the following languages : English, French, German, Turkish, Arabic or Russian.*
DANGER ! YOU MAY BE UNINTENTIONALLY CARRYING FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS WHICH CAN INFECT LIVESTOCK IN THIS COUNTRY OR IN YOUR COUNTRY OF FINAL DESTINATION !
You have come from a country that is not free of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and you are entering a country (or countries) that is free of this disease.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease is a highly infectious viral disease of livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs) which is not harmful to humans, but which may cause dramatic losses when it infects livestock populations.
The virus is transmitted by infected animals, but it can also be transmitted by meat, meat products, milk, dairy products, hides, skins or animal trophies and subsequently infect susceptible animals which consume or are put in contact with these products.
You are kindly requested to inform the Customs Officer:
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if you are carrying any products of animal origin
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including the food that you may have brought for consumption during your journey or
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if you have visited a farm with cattle, sheep, goats or pigs on your travels.
You should disinfect your shoes and clothes and avoid visiting farms or other places with susceptible animals for five days.
Never throw any food to animals along the road.
You should keep your waste food in a plastic bag and put it in the special bins.
It is prohibited to feed this waste food to pigs.
(* EuFMD may provide support for translation of short leaflets in these languages, free of charge for member countries, the costs, if any, will be supported by EuFMD)
Awareness campaign for companies in Airports and Harbours
(airlines, catering companies and airport and harbour authorities) on the risks associated with waste food from planes and boats coming from Foot-and-Mouth Disease infected countries.
DANGER ! YOU MAY UNINTENTIONALLY INTRODUCE FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS WHICH CAN INFECT LIVESTOCK IN THIS COUNTRY OR IN OTHER COUNTRIES IN EUROPE !
Foot-and-Mouth Disease is a highly infectious viral disease of livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs) which is not harmful to humans, but which may cause dramatic losses when it infects livestock populations.
You manage a transport company having regular commercial relations with countries that are not free from Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
The virus is transmitted by infected animals, but it can also be transmitted by meat, meat products, milk, dairy products, hides, skins or animal trophies and subsequently infect susceptible animals which consume or are put in contact with these products.
You are kindly requested to:
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take all necessary measures for the destruction by heat (min 100 degrees C for 20 min) of all waste food coming from your planes/boats.
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contact the National Veterinary Services on the local procedures to be followed to safely eliminate the waste food, which should never be distributed to animals.