Foot and mouth disease situation in North Africa

and possible risk mitigating actions

Point A.03 of Animal Health and Welfare SectionSCoPAFF 21 August 2014

Unit G2 Animal HealthDG SANCO

Outline of presentation

• FMD situation in Tunisia

• FMD situation in Algeria

• FMD vaccine delivery

Presentation based on data from:1. ANALYSIS OF FMD RISK INTRODUCTION FROM TUNISIA TO THE REST OF THE

NORTH AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND INTO EUROPEAuthors: Dr Rachid Bouguedour and Dr Alessandro Ripani, OIE sub-regional

representation, Tunis (TUNISIA)

2. REPORT OF THE MISSION TO TUNISIA TO EVALUATE THE FOOT AND MOUTH EPIDEMIC, 16–20 JUNE, 2014

Authors: Vincenzo CAPORALE, Emiliana BROCCHI, Giorgio VARISCO, OIE Reference 

Laboratory for FMD, IZSLER, Brescia (Italy)

3. Foot-and-mouth disease contingency plan sent by Tunisian veterinary authorities.

4. Foot-and-mouth disease contingency plan sent by Algerian veterinary authorities.

FMD situation in Tunisia

Control measures applied in Tunisia:

1. Vaccination programme approved by the OIE during the General Session in May 2012:

• the annual vaccination of all bovine animals and small ruminants in the period from September to November;

• the vaccine for cattle is composed of O, A and SAT-2 antigens, while for small ruminants - O and SAT-2 antigens.

The vaccination coverage in the 2013 campaign has reached approximately 78.9% and 67.8% of the estimated cattle and small ruminant populations, respectively.

Primary FMD outbreak notified by Tunisian Veterinary Authority on 25 April 2014, after the last outbreak in 1999 (Map source: OIE/WAHIS)

Serotype: O

Species: cattle

Source of infection not confirmed – could be animal transportation vehicles originating from Libya

Geographical distribution of FMD outbreaks in Tunisia (15/08/2014) (Map source: Tunisia)

120 outbreaks notified till 15 August, according to the OIE

Species: cattle (373 cases on 2104 susceptibles), sheep (506 cases on 4989 susceptibles), goats (5 cases on 764 susceptibles)

Control measures applied in Tunisia:2. The emergency vaccination campaign which started on 25 April

2014 :• whole cattle population and all small ruminants destined for

fattening; • vaccination is practiced both in animal holdings and in animal

markets; • priority has been given to susceptible animals within the outbreak

areas and within a 5 km radius around the outbreak areas.

However, if an animal keeper refused to vaccinate the animals, the latter are not vaccinated.

Approximately 10% of small ruminants and 80% of cattle was vaccinated during the emergency ; Objectives : 80% of both cattle and SR

Control measures applied in Tunisia:

3. Activation of crisis management cells at national and regional level;4. Epidemiological investigation to determine the origin of the

infection;5. Establishment of disinfection posts for all vehicles leaving the

affected governorate;6. Destruction of viscera and bones of clinically affected animals

slaughtered, by burial within two strata of lime;7. Disinfection with lime of infected premises and block of entry and

exit of animals, materials and outsiders.

Measures not applied in Tunisia because of social, cultural and economic reasons:

1. Closing of animal markets, as it could cause opening of illegal markets;

2. Control of animal movements, as there is no identification and traceability system in Tunisia;

3. Stamping out of infected animals since there are no funds available to compensate the farmers.

Geographical distribution of animal markets in Tunisia (Map source: Tunisia)

Density of bovine animals population in Tunisia (No. of animals per Km²) (Map source: Tunisia)

Density of ovine animals population in Tunisia (No. of animals per Km²) (Map source: Tunisia)

Density of caprine animals population in Tunisia (No. of animals per Km²) (Map source: Tunisia)

FMD situation in Algeria

Control measures applied in Algeria:

Annual vaccination programme approved by the OIE during the General Session in May 2012 – vaccination of cattle, with O and A antigens; no vaccination in small ruminants.

Primary FMD outbreak notified by Algerian Veterinary Authority on 23 July 2014, after the last outbreak in 1999 (Map source: OIE/WAHIS)

Serotype: O

Species: cattle

Geographical distribution of FMD outbreaks in Algeria (07/08/2014) (Map source: OIE/WAHIS)

44 outbreaks notified till 7 August, according to the OIE

Species: cattle, sheep, goats

Control measures applied in Algeria:

1. The annual vaccination programme approved by the OIE during the General Session in May 2012 – vaccination of cattle, with O and A antigens; no vaccination in small ruminants. Emergency vaccination after the outbreaks in Tunisia (783 000 bovine/2Million)

2. Suspension of import of animals and animal products from Tunisia;3. Establishment of disinfection posts at Eastern border posts; 4. Movement control inside the country (including a ban on the

movement of animals within the infected wilayah and movement control in the neighbouring wilayahs);

5. Information and awareness campaigns, clinical checks in the herds

Control measures applied in Algeria:

6. Vaccination of animals (bovine + small ruminants) around the outbreak(s);

7. Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s);8. Stamping out of infected herds;9. Closing of livestock markets in the affected wilayah and

the neighbouring wilayahs;10.Emergency vaccination of cattle is not yet finished.

Geographical distribution of animal markets in Algeria (Map source: Algeria)

Distribution of bovine animals in Algeria (Map source: Algeria)

Distribution of ovine animals in Algeria (Map source: Algeria)

Distribution of caprine animals in Algeria (Map source: Algeria)

FMD virus serotype and the vaccine

• Serotype O showing 99% identity (VP1) with the LIB/2/2013 strain isolated in Libya in 2013.

• According to the vaccine in vitro matching tests, several O strains should be able to elicit an adequate immune response against FMD strain circulating in Libya

Delivery of FMD vaccine to Tunisia

• 1.000.000 doses of trivalent vaccine from the EU antigen and vaccine bank (Merial)(O1-BFS 1860/ A Iran 05/ SAT2 ERI Africa)

• Planned delivery to the place of destination: 21 or 22 August.

Delivery of FMD vaccine to Algeria

• 100.000 doses of trivalent vaccine (O1-BFS 1860/ A Iran 05/ SAT2 ERI Africa) from the EU antigen and vaccine bank (Merial)

• Delivered to the place of destination on 19 August.

• 900.000 doses of bivalent vaccine (O/TUR, A/TUR) by MSD in cooperation with Dutch veterinary services

• Planned delivery date to the place of destination not yet confirmed.