Workshop on Regional Coordination of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Surveillance, Diagnosis and Control in North Africa and Near East
04/12/2012-05/12/2012
Workshop on Regional Coordination of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Surveillance, Diagnosis and Control in North Africa and Near East
The recent outbreaks of an atypical strain of FMD (SAT2), with cases confirmed in Egypt, Libya, Gaza Strip and Bahrain last April have affected and are still affecting the livelihood of many smallholders in the Near East and North Africa region where livestock sector contributes up to 60% of agricultural GDP.
Due to the novelty of this particular strain of FMD livestock in the region have no acquired resistance yet and in the affected countries, many households have lost their only assets, causing huge losses in the meat and milk value chains.
Since February, the new strain of FMD, in Egypt alone, has infected more than 80,000 cattle and buffaloes, killing over 20,000 of them, mostly the young ones. Remarkable disorder in the meat supply chains, volatility of meat prices, reduction in milk yield of the affected animals by as much as 80%, are just some of the negative consequences of FMD outbreaks on livestock production and the livelihoods of smallholders. The disease is not a direct threat to humans; however, meat and milk from sick animals are unsafe for consumption, raising concerns about food shortages. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt, by August 2012, some 94,401 animals have been infected by FMD with mortality rate reaching 28 percent, a loss of US$ 33 million. Steadily rising prices for meat and fish was noted.
FAO estimates that more than 250 million animals are at risk in the region.
To ensure that countries are prepared to prevent the disease from entering, FAO has been fielding a number of missions to Egypt, Libya and PAT-Gaza to train technical staff in laboratory diagnosis, surveillance, vaccine programme evaluation and data collection. In addition to this, FAO has issued flush appeals to contain the outbreaks and alert member countries for preparedness.
To underscore the need for regional collaboration, timely information sharing and harmonization of strategies FAO is hence organizing a workshop on “Regional Coordination of Foot-and Mouth Disease Surveillance, Diagnosis and Control in the near east and North Africa”.
The workshop will focus on assessing FMD status of FMD across Near East and North Africa (NENA) and to present country Progressive Control Pathway self-assessment to establish roadmaps for the region.
The regional workshop, which will see the participation of Chief Veterinary Officers from 19 countries of the region, FAO experts, vaccine producers, development partners and donors is expected to endorse a Regional FMD Control Strategy for a coordinated and harmonized FMD control under the Global framework of FMD control.
Due to the novelty of this particular strain of FMD livestock in the region have no acquired resistance yet and in the affected countries, many households have lost their only assets, causing huge losses in the meat and milk value chains.
Since February, the new strain of FMD, in Egypt alone, has infected more than 80,000 cattle and buffaloes, killing over 20,000 of them, mostly the young ones. Remarkable disorder in the meat supply chains, volatility of meat prices, reduction in milk yield of the affected animals by as much as 80%, are just some of the negative consequences of FMD outbreaks on livestock production and the livelihoods of smallholders. The disease is not a direct threat to humans; however, meat and milk from sick animals are unsafe for consumption, raising concerns about food shortages. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt, by August 2012, some 94,401 animals have been infected by FMD with mortality rate reaching 28 percent, a loss of US$ 33 million. Steadily rising prices for meat and fish was noted.
FAO estimates that more than 250 million animals are at risk in the region.
To ensure that countries are prepared to prevent the disease from entering, FAO has been fielding a number of missions to Egypt, Libya and PAT-Gaza to train technical staff in laboratory diagnosis, surveillance, vaccine programme evaluation and data collection. In addition to this, FAO has issued flush appeals to contain the outbreaks and alert member countries for preparedness.
To underscore the need for regional collaboration, timely information sharing and harmonization of strategies FAO is hence organizing a workshop on “Regional Coordination of Foot-and Mouth Disease Surveillance, Diagnosis and Control in the near east and North Africa”.
The workshop will focus on assessing FMD status of FMD across Near East and North Africa (NENA) and to present country Progressive Control Pathway self-assessment to establish roadmaps for the region.
The regional workshop, which will see the participation of Chief Veterinary Officers from 19 countries of the region, FAO experts, vaccine producers, development partners and donors is expected to endorse a Regional FMD Control Strategy for a coordinated and harmonized FMD control under the Global framework of FMD control.