Workshop on Contingency planning and practical activities in surveillance on Bluetongue and FMD

Transcription

1 Workshop on Contingency planning and practical activities in surveillance on Bluetongue and FMD AGR Organised in co-operation with Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Veterinary Directorate of Serbia Kristine Lamberga, Food and Veterinary Service, Latvia Belgrade, Serbia May

2 Contingency Plan and Operational Manual for Bluetongue - Procedures and Instructions in EU, practical approach 2

3 Legal background EU control measures to combat Bluetongue are in place since the year 2000 through Council Directive 2000/75/EC. Further control rules have been adopted to tackle the recent outbreak through coordinated European action. They are informed by EFSA s scientific advice and are decided on by the European Commission and EU Member States. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 contains detailed implementing rules for the control, monitoring, surveillance of animals and flying midge insects plus restrictions on the movement of certain animal species. 3

4 Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20 November 2000 laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue Article Each Member State shall draw up a contingency plan indicating the means by which it applies the measures laid down in this Directive. This plan must provide for access to plant, equipment, personnel and any other appropriate facility necessary for the swift and effective eradication of the disease. 2. The criteria to be applied for drawing up the plans referred to in paragraph 1 are set out in Annex III. 4

5 Council Directive 2000/75/EC ANNEX III - MINIMUM CRITERIA APPLICABLE TO CONTINGENCY PLANS The contingency plans must provide for at least the following: 1. the establishment at national level of a crisis unit to coordinate all emergency measures in the Member State concerned; 2. a list of local emergency centres adequately equipped for the purpose of coordinating control measures at local level; 3. detailed information on the personnel responsible for emergency measures, their qualifications and their responsibilities; 5

6 Council Directive 2000/75/EC ANNEX III - MINIMUM CRITERIA APPLICABLE TO CONTINGENCY PLANS 4. the possibility, for each local centre, of swiftly contacting persons or organisations directly or indirectly affected by an outbreak; 5. the availability of the equipment and materials necessary for the proper implementation of emergency measures; 6. instructions regarding the steps to be taken, including means of destroying carcasses, when cases of infection or contamination are suspected and confirmed; 7. training programmes for updating and enhancing knowledge of procedures on the ground and administrative procedures; 6

7 Council Directive 2000/75/EC ANNEX III - MINIMUM CRITERIA APPLICABLE TO CONTINGENCY PLANS 8. for the diagnostic laboratories, an autopsy function, the capability required for conducting serological and histological tests, etc., and the updating of rapid diagnostic techniques (provisions on the swift transportation of samples should be laid down for this purpose); 9. information concerning the quantity of vaccines against bluetongue deemed necessary in case emergency vaccination needs to be reintroduced; 10. regulatory provisions for implementing the contingency plans. 7

8 Elaboration of CP in Latvia The FVS is responsible for development and updating of CPs. Other organizations are consulted on specific details: - the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) provides information on diagnostic tests that are carried out and on diagnostic capacity time for turnaround of results etc. - environmental institutions regarding environmental issues, mainly in relation with carcass disposal methods and places - State Forest Service if wildlife animals are involved in the outbreak - Control centre for infectious diseases if there is threat for human health 8

9 CP and instruction manuals in Latvia General contingency plan (CP) for dealing with outbreaks of all types of epizootic disease is in place and covers the following information: - legal provisions - financial provisions - national and local disease control centres - chain of command - expert group - recourses - establishment of P and S zones - vaccination - laboratory diagnostics - trainings - public awareness - animal culling - carcass disposal - minimum criteria for regional CP The general plan is supported by disease specific operational manuals which give targeted instructions on how to control each disease. 9

10 Instruction manuals for: - Foot and mouth disease - Classical swine fever and the Manual of CSF diagnostics - Avian influenza - Newcastle disease - Bluetongue - African horse sickness - Swine vesicular disease and other diseases - African swine fever and CP and instruction manuals in Latvia - Instruction on notification of highly dangerous infection diseases (incudes templates for epidemiological investigations etc.) - Manual for human killing of animals - Instruction on disinfection (a manual on the procedures to be used for cleaning and disinfection of animal housing following an epizootic outbreak, it includes specific information on the types of disinfectants that can be used to combat the different epizootic diseases etc.) 10

11 CP and instruction manuals in Latvia The general part of the CP must be updated at least once every two years. The operational manuals on control of specific diseases must be updated at least every five years and more frequently in the case where there are changes in legislation or in specific disease situations. From 2010, TSUs are required to update their local contingency plans at least every three years. 11

12 CP and instruction manuals in Latvia A number of agreements and contracts have been or are being established as part of the contingency planning process. These include: - an agreement with a rendering plant on the destruction of carcases during disease outbreaks - an agreement with a company on the provision of CO 2 for gassing of poultry (currently under negotiation) - an agreement with a company on the provision of disinfectants 12

13 CP general part 1. Legal provisions include reference to legislative documents which delegates the tasks and responsibilities of CA in relation to CP; shortly describes the specific competences. 2. Financial provisions describes compensation mechanisms and source of finances during emergency situations 13

14 CP general part 3. Disease control centres - Command and control structures for dealing with epizootic disease outbreaks are defined at both central and local levels with the possibility to use national government and regional government crisis committees. National disease control centre (NDCC) NDCC is located at the central office of the FVS and is chaired by the CVO, who decides on disease eradication measures, co-ordination of activities and establishment of protection and surveillance zones. NDCC is virtual in the sense that staff would continue to work at their normal workstations which would give them access to all the IT and communications equipment needed to handle an outbreak. The Board of Crisis Management is responsible for the operational management of major emergency situations at national level. 14

15 CP general part 3. Disease control centres Local Disease Control Centre (LDCC) LDCC is located at each TSU of FVS and is chaired by the TSU Head or Deputy Head, who is the state senior veterinary inspector. This Centre is responsible for notification of outbreaks, organisation of sampling, epidemiological investigations and implementation of restrictions. In the event of an epizootic outbreak LDCCs will initially be established in the nearest TSU office. 15

16 CP general part 4. Chain of command - Competent Authority command structure during an epizootic outbreak The CP describes the chain of command in place, and the role of the CVO. An Operational Group would be summoned by the CVO to carry out duties in the NDCC. The members of this group are identified in the CP. Additionally, according to the Law on Civil Protection in the event of a serious epizootic outbreak a State Emergency Situations Operational Committee could be constituted under the guidance of the Ministry of Interior, in order to coordinate the activities of the various state institutions involved. The CVO would be part of this committee (central level). On regional level the law provides a legal basis for state administrations, municipal institutions and other organizations to be required to assist in the control of major disease outbreaks. This includes the involvement of County Civil Defence Committees (include local representatives of the fire, environmental, forestry services and local government and provide staff and equipment to deal with outbreaks). 16

17 CP general part 5. Resources availability of equipment CP contains a list of material and equipment to be kept in each TSU. In addition there are 5 Ministry of Interior stores of emergency equipment distributed throughout Latvia. These stores contain equipment for humane killing, mobile disinfection equipment, generators, signs for marking the boundary of protection and surveillance zones etc. A special kit for the investigation of the first suspect of an epizootic disease is kept in each TSU. There is also a store of sufficient protective equipment for dealing with the early stages of an epizootic outbreak. All the equipment and logistical support that might be required in case of a large scale outbreak would be provided via the regional County Civil Defence Committee. 17

18 CP general part 6. Expert groups - availability of epidemiological expertise Information on the expert groups is set out in the general CP. A single expert group for all diseases comprises staff from the scientific and educational bodies. Virologists, microbiologists, meteorologists, veterinary epidemiologists, veterinary pathologists and experts in wildlife and environmental issues are included. Experts initiate action in accordance with an order from the CVO. In practice the exact composition of the expert group will vary according to the particular epizootic disease outbreak being dealt with and the actual expertise required. EU Commission provides Community level experts upon the request from MS. 18

19 CP general part 7. Establishment and enforcement of protection and surveillance zones The general CP sets out the rules for establishment of protection and surveillance zones. They will be established on the basis of order issued by the CVO immediately after the diagnosis of a disease has been officially confirmed. Restrictions will apply to the infected premises, the protection zone and the surveillance zone. Geographical, meteorological, epidemiological and administrative factors will be taken into account when the boundaries of the zones are drawn up. If any zone includes parts of the territory of another country, the veterinary service of that country shall be informed to allow common measures to be organised to control and eradicate the disease. 19

20 CP general part 8. Vaccination policy and availability of vaccine The procedures for deciding on whether emergency vaccination would be carried out are set out in the general CP. In principle the CVO takes the decision based on the advice of the operational group and the expert team and after discussing the matter with the European Commission. The senior veterinarians in TSUs involved will have the responsibility of organizing vaccination in their TSUs. 20

21 CP general part 9. Depopulation for epizootic disease control The vector-borne nature of the disease ensures that the risk of disease spread can only be controlled to a limited degree (i.e. we cannot guarantee 100% protection from vectors). As BT is spread via vectors compulsory slaughter of ruminants infected with BT would not normally form part of our control strategy. Legal requirements: Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 lays down rules for the killing of animals, including when this is performed for the purpose of depopulation. Article 18 requires that the stunning and killing methods planned and the standard operating procedures for ensuring compliance with the rules shall be included in the CP (on the basis of the hypothesis established in the CP concerning the size and location of suspected outbreaks). Guidelines for humane animal killing contain useful information and guidance regarding killing (e.g. identification of advantages and disadvantages of some killing methods, species to which particular methods are recommended, etc.) but are not detailed enough to ensure compliance with all the requirements of Regulation No 1099/2009 (Annex I). 21

22 CP general part 10. Disposal of carcasses Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 lay down health rules for animal by-products, in order to prevent and minimize risks to public and animal health. Articles 12;13 of Regulation No 1069/2009 specify the disposal routes for animals killed for disease control purposes. By way of derogation from these rules, Article 19(1)(e) of this Regulation allows the disposal of these ABP by burning or burial on site. Article 15(a) of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 sets out the special rules to be followed in case this derogation is used. There is a contract in place with a rendering plant to collect and process animal carcasses in case of an outbreak in Latvia. However, the rendering plant is processing only category 3 materials and would need a few days to adapt to processing carcasses of diseased animals which would be category 1 or 2 material. In addition rendering capacity is of approximately 40 tons per day and that would be insufficient in case of a major outbreak. Therefore, the preferred option for carcass disposal is burning on site or, alternatively, burial. 22

23 CP general part 11. Public awareness Awareness in peace time: Leaflets (CSF, ASF, FMD, AI) Posters Actual information in website: Information through media, newspapers etc. Regional seminars/ meetings for veterinary practitioners and animal owners Awareness during outbreak: Press & Media (including press conferences) Website Leaflets (mainly in the affected zone) Local municipalities 23

24 CP general part 12.Training Simulation exercises, table top exercises, real time alert exercises dealing with epizootic diseases take place on a regular basis and many of them involve cooperation with other countries 24

25 Instruction manual for BT «Instruction on control and eradication of BT» Elaborated mainly according to Council Directive 2000/75 Contains: 1. Description of the disease 2. Definitions 3. Action if BT is suspected 4. Action if BT is confirmed 5. Epidemiological investigations 6. Establishment of P & S zones 7. Measures in P & S zones 8. Animal protection from vectors during transportation 9. Laboratory diagnostics of BT NB! Commission Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 contains detailed implementing rules for the control, monitoring, surveillance of animals and flying midge insects plus restrictions on the movement of certain animal species. 25