Focus On

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is considered as the most economically important disease of livestock due to its impact on livestock production and international trade (James and Rushton, 2002).

This year saw the introduction of the World Rabies Day MSD Animal Health Awards. Nominations were invited from around the world to recognize people and organisations that have made a difference in rabies control.

If you want to see how your work can make a difference, then the best way might just be to give a helping hand in the field.

While a lot of information on FMD control focusses on the epidemic situation, there is less information available for endemic countries to make strategic decisions to control the disease.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an economically important disease of cattle, resulting in major losses due to damaged hides, deteriorating condition and high morbidity following outbreaks. Since 2010, the disease has been spreading and is no longer restricted to Africa.

After a major outbreak of rabies in the Bukowina in 1891, the Supreme Sanitary Board of Austria formed an Epidemiologic Committee, which finally recommended the establishment of a vaccination unit in a hospital.

FMD virus is constantly evolving, creating a challenge for control programmes when considering vaccine strains. It is important to understand the circulating threats and to ensure that the vaccine strain being used is suitable for the region.

For the first edition we will consider Peste des Petits Ruminants as this disease has received increasing attention over the last year.