Country Report on FMD in Uganda

Dr. Ayebazibwe Chrisostom, PhD EARLN FMD Country Focal Person – Uganda

Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Entebbe

EARLN Meeting FMD 29th August, 2013, Entebbe, Uganda

• Agriculture contributes 15.1% of National GDP, with livestock sub-sector contributing 8.5% (MoFPED, 2009: IIED, 2008).

• FMD is one of the most important diseases impacting on trade world-wide.

• Highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-footed domestic and wild animals.

• FMD has been reported in Uganda since 1953 and six out of the known seven serotypes have been encountered overtime including A, O, C, SAT I, SAT 2 and SAT 3. Type O is dominant.

Introduction

Species Number (millions)

Cattle 11.4 Goats 12.4 Sheep 3.4 Pigs 3.2

Chickens 37.4 Ducks 1.5

Turkeys 0.3

Ugandaʹs livestock population

Beautiful Long horned Ankole Cattle

Demographics

Human population is about 34 million people

FMD Control in Uganda • Illegal movement of animals most

incriminated in the spread of the disease. • The government policy on FMD control is

quarantine and vaccination to which an estimated US$500,000 is dedicated annually.

• However this is affected by the delayed vaccinations following FMD outbreaks (the average reactive time is 7.5 weeks).

• Source of vaccines: Kenya Veterinary Vaccine Institute (KEVEVAPI)

Current Status of FMD in Uganda • Uganda is still on Stage 1 of the PCP • The current (2013) FMD outbreaks have been

recorded in the districts of Isingiro, Rakai, Ntungamo, Wakiso, Kiruhura and Gomba. Serotype SAT 2 has been confirmed in Isingiro district, while serotype A in Wakiso district. For this matter, vaccine has to contain O, A and SAT 2 (trivalent vaccines are used to avoid multiple and expensive vaccinations).

• Serotype O was the only serotype in FMD outbreaks 2006 - 2012

• Research: SAT 1 in buffalos, O in cattle.

Map of Uganda showing the relative occurrence of FMD outbreaks in Uganda 2013

Surveillance and Laboratory Activities • The National Animal Disease Diagnostics and

Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC) has been upgraded – transit to Biosecurity Level 3 and undertake more rigorous studies, including FMD.

• NADDEC participated in FMD proficiency tests (2010, 2011 & 2012)

• FMD tests at NADDEC: serology (LPBE, SPBE, Ag ELISA, Priocheck), PCR (conventional, samples sent for sequencing). Penside test kits required

• Vaccine matching – urgently requried. Support required to coordinate with Pirbright on this.

• About 1200 surveillance and research samples analyzed for FMD between 2012 & 2013

• Type O (2011) and SAT 2 FMDV sequences submitted to GeneBank

• Uganda has undertaken the feasibility study for export of meat to EU markets, earmarked Disease Control zones, developed the National FMD Control Strategy and Policy and formed the Uganda Meat Cooperative Union (UMCU).

• A number of field surveillance activities have also been undertaken.

Actions for improved FMD Control • Stakeholder sensitization • Regular and effective vaccination programmes

should be undertaken based on the local knowledge of occurrence of FMD

• Supporting national surveillance and laboratory investigations to clearly zone infected and high-risk areas

• More staff are necessary at MAAIF and in the districts

• Most districts lack essential facilities to collect samples and report FMD on time or undertake vaccinations.

• Emergency preparedness capacity, information sharing and networking, particularly at the borders with neighboring countries including Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, DRC and South Sudan.

• FMD is a transboundary animal disease whose effective control will very much depend on regional coordination and harmonization of control efforts.

• Strengthen the National Veterinary Service System. Recentralization of veterinary services will ensure an effective chain of command.

• Relevant laws should be enacted and regulations enforced.

• Allocation of sufficient funds at the center and in the districts will ensure that services are well implemented.

• More research on the epidemiology of FMD – circulating serotypes, effectiveness of vaccines, role of wildlife & small ruminants

• Implementing the National FMD Control Strategy

Biosecurity Required materials are Expensive and quite often procurement is prolonged

Challenges for FMD Control

Difficulty of virus recovery from field samples. It is still difficult to harvest the virus and sequence from field livestock and wildlife samples. Liquid nitrogen is being tried out and disinfectants used with care

Virus Recovery

Late reporting/sampling: tissues necessary for Antigen ELISA

Getting the right FMD samples

Stakeholders ignoring FMD quarantine restrictions (case of Kiruhura District –

May 2013

Cattle Trade Ghee Trade Meat Trade

Lack of compensation policy and poor awareness about FMD promotes FMD spread during quarantine period

Vaccines

• The existing vaccines are very expensive (about 1.2 dollars per dose at factory). A minimum of 5 million doses is required annually for preventive vaccination of multiple livestock species.

• Need for continuous update on FMD circulating serotypes (vaccine matching)

Current Support for FMD Control

• Implementing the Transboundary Animal Diseases in East Africa (TADEA) Research Project. 2 PhD students – FMD epidemiology at livestock-wildlife interface & application of SPBE in diagnosis of FMD under endemic settings

• Concluded the OIE Lab Twinning Project (NADDEC – Pirbright) –undertook proficiency tests 2010/12

• Received Antigen ELISA kits for FMD under IDENTIFY Project – helped to type recent FMD outbreaks. 30 samples analyzed 2013.

…………..THANK YOU………….

Biosecurity Level 3 Laboratory under

completion at NADDEC

Country Report on FMD in UgandaIntroductionDemographicsFMD Control in UgandaCurrent Status of FMD in UgandaMap of Uganda showing the relative occurrence of FMD outbreaks in Uganda 2013Surveillance and Laboratory ActivitiesSlide Number 8Actions for improved FMD ControlSlide Number 10Slide Number 11BiosecuritySlide Number 13Late reporting/sampling: tissues necessary for Antigen ELISA�Stakeholders ignoring FMD quarantine restrictions (case of Kiruhura District – May 2013�VaccinesCurrent Support for FMD Control�…………..THANK YOU………….��Biosecurity Level 3 Laboratory under completion at NADDEC�