The FAO European Foot-and-Mouth Disease Committee held its plenary session in early May

(Photo: Pixabay)

The FAO European Foot-and-Mouth Disease Committee was founded in 1954 with the aim of controlling and eradicating one of the most contagious and economically damaging animal diseases in Europe. The committee currently has 40 European member states and aims to assess the risk of FMD and to minimise it.

The organization – through international cooperation – provides assistance in the early detection of the disease and in epidemic management both within and outside Europe

It also plays an important role in collecting information on virus strains found in European and world reference laboratories, based on which their movement and spread can be followed. Following the appearance of the RSZKF in March – in accordance with the Commission’s principles – Hungary, Slovakia and Austria also received immediate assistance in sharing knowledge about the disease and in training veterinarians in disease control and vaccination.

At the EuFMD general meeting held in Rome between 5-7 May, experts reviewed the epidemic situation in Europe and neighboring countries

The spread of RSZKF viruses found in the world, their risks, and the results of surveillance and training programs conducted in recent years were also on the agenda of the meeting. At the meeting, Dr. Szabolcs Pásztor, National Chief Veterinary Officer, presented the current RSZKF situation in Hungary. Dr. At the initiative of Lajos Bognár, the outgoing president of the EuFMD after two terms, i.e. 3 years, bilateral negotiations also took place on the lifting of trade restrictions affecting Hungary and the enforcement of regionalization.

Nebih