News

The Standing Group of Experts on Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in the Eastern European countries under the GF-TADs umbrella was established in order to analyse experience and to assess measures taken for infection control. The work of the group is aimed at building up a closer cooperation among LSD infected countries, thereby enabling the development of a collaborative and harmonised approach to the eradication of this disease, as well as vaccination strategies in Eastern Europe.

On May 28, 2019, the 8th meeting of the Group of Experts was held in Paris (France) within the framework of the 87th General Session of the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) with the participation of the members of the European Commission (EC), the World Animal Health Organization (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The LSD vaccination strategies of the Russian Federation, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania and others were presented and discussed.

Agriculture and Fisheries Representative within the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation in the European Commission Pavel Kulakov, Deputy Head of the Rosselkhoznadzor subordinate FGBI “Federal Centre for Animal Health” Artyom Metlin and Head of the Department for Livestock Disease Diagnosis and Prevention Alexander Kononov took part in the work of the meeting.

In their speeches, the representatives of the countries presented the current animal disease situation and vaccination strategies in 2019. The time frame for launching vaccination campaigns, amount of doses used for cattle, the extent of vaccination zones were discussed, arguments on the choice of vaccines used were presented. Alexander Kononov provided information on the current animal disease situation and the vaccination strategy in the Russian Federation in his report.

In conclusion, President of the GF-TADs for Europe Dr. Bernard Van Goethem noted the importance of the event. The next meeting of the GF-TADs experts will be held in October this year.

FGBI “ARRIAH” Press Office