epidemiology & animal disease control programmes Self declaration by France on the recovery of its rabies-free status (in accord with article 8.10.2. of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the OIE, 2009 Edition) Report submitted on 18 May 2010 by Dr Jean-Luc Angot, Deputy Director of the Directorate-General of Food, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Paris, France France In accordance with Article 8.10.2 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Terrestrial Code) (2009 edition) of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), on 19 February 2010, France regained its disease-free status from rabies. France, which had been free from rabies since 2001, lost that status on 26 February 2008, following evidence of an indigenous case of rabies. The rabies diagnosis was confirmed on 26 February 2008 by a French Reference Laboratory on the body of an animal (named Cracotte ), euthanased on 19 February 2008. Epidemiological tests carried out by the Veterinary Services and genotyping of the rabies strain, conducted by a Reference Laboratory, were able to determine that this indigenous case was indirectly linked, through another dog (named Youpi ), to a case of rabies imported from Morocco in October 2007 and believed to be the index case. This index case (named Gamin ), infected in Morocco, had been illegally imported into France: he had infected Youpi, who infected Cracotte. An analytical diagnosis of rabies could not be made on the two dogs believed to have rabies (Youpi and Gamin) because their bodies had been destroyed after euthanasia. Nevertheless, in retrospect, the signs observed in these two dogs were confirmed to be consistent with those of rabies. In managing this episode, all the animals which had been in contact with the three rabid dogs (Cracotte, Youpi and Gamin) were identified and, according to the circumstances, were either placed under surveillance (12 dogs) or euthanased (1 cat and 6 dogs). At the same time, movementrestriction measures were placed on all dogs and cats in the areas frequented by the three dogs with rabies. The spread of the disease was finally halted, in that no other case of rabies linked to these three cases was detected. Two other imported cases of rabies occurred in France in 2008: the first in April 2008, in a dog illegally imported from Gambia via Belgium; the second 31
in November 2008, in a dog picked up in southern Spain (phylogenic analysis determined that the strain of rabies originated in Morocco.) The four dogs and two cats which had been in contact with these two rabid dogs were euthanased. All the animals euthanased while managing these three episodes of rabies were subjected to laboratory diagnosis of rabies, but the results were negative. During each rabies episode, human health services provided care and support for people who had come into contact with the rabid animals. No indigenous case of human infection was detected in metropolitan France after these occurrences. Rabies surveillance in France is based upon a network of approximately 13,000 disease control veterinarians who report possible cases of rabies to the Veterinary Services (rabies is a compulsory notifiable disease in France). No secondary case or other new imported case of rabies has been identified by this surveillance network since November 2008, enabling France to recover its disease-free status under Article 8.10.2 of the Terrestrial Code. France had been free from rabies since 2001, after more than 30 years of intensive control measures, including oral vaccination campaigns for foxes. Before notification of the indigenous case in February 2008, the last case of indigenous rabies identified in a terrestrial carnivore dated back to 1998. Brunei Darussalam declares itself free from white spot disease, Taura syndrome, yellowhead disease and infectious myonecrosis Information received though the Delegate of Brunei Darussalam to the OIE, Dr Dabeding Dullah, Department of Agriculture, Brunei Darussalam This is a self-declaration of freedom from white spot disease (WSD), Taura syndrome (TS), yellowhead disease (YHD) and infectious myonecrosis (IMN) for the entire territory of Brunei Darussalam, in accordance with the conditions required by the Aquatic Animal Health Code 2009 (the Aquatic Code) and by the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals 2006 (the Aquatic Manual). Shrimp cultured in Brunei Darussalam Brunei Darussalam started developing aquaculture in the 1970s. The shrimp aquaculture industry is the leading fisheries industry and has contributed 80% of the total national aquaculture production. Specific pathogen-free (SPF) blue shrimp (Penaeus stylirostris) is the major species cultured and was introduced from 32
Brunei Darussalam Venezuela in 1999. At the end of 2009, 13 shrimp farms were in operation in Brunei Darussalam, constituting an area of 178 hectares, with an annual production of more than 400 tons, 60% of which is destined for export. Shrimp-culture facilities in Brunei Darussalam range from hatcheries to raceways and grow-out ponds. In 2006, a breeding programme for SPF tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) was initiated by the Brunei Darussalam Department of Fisheries, with the help of consultants. news from colleagues Basic biosecurity conditions To ensure an adequate level of biosecurity is achieved, the following standards are applied to WSD, TS, YHD and IMN in Brunei Darussalam: A declaration of the presence or any suspicion of WSD, TS, YHD, IMN is compulsory to the competent authority (the Brunei Department of Fisheries). An early detection system has been in place since 2006, and clinical and technical follow-up on farms is carried out by the Aquatic Animal Health Centre of the Brunei Department of Fisheries, in partnership with the OIE Reference Laboratory: the Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, Arizona, United States of America. Active animal health surveillance has been introduced to detect any evidence of WSD, TS, YHD or IMN. Virological surveys are conducted monthly on all farms, along with an extensive survey of wild shrimp. These surveys are conducted using the most sensitive targeted technique (polymerase chain reaction), in combination with histology and field observations by technical unit staff from the competent authority. Imports are subject to the conditions laid down in the Aquatic Code to prevent the introduction of WSD, TS, YHD or IMN into the country. Self-declaration of freedom from white spot disease Brunei Darussalam satisfies the conditions laid down in Point 3 of Article 9.5.4 of the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code 2009: A country where the last observed occurrence of the disease was within the past 10 years or where the infection status prior to targeted surveillance was unknown (e.g. because of the absence of conditions conducive to its clinical expression as described in the corresponding chapter of the Aquatic Manual) may make a self-declaration of freedom from WSD when: a) basic biosecurity conditions have been continuously met for at least the past 2 years; and b) targeted surveillance, as described in Chapter 1.4. of the Aquatic Code, has been in place for at least the last 2 years without detection of [white spot syndrome virus] WSSV. 33
Self-declaration of freedom from Taura syndrome Brunei Darussalam satisfies the conditions laid down in Point 2 of Article 9.4.4 of the Aquatic Animal Health Code 2009: A country where the susceptible species referred to in Article 9.4.2. are present but there has been no observed occurrence of the disease for at least the past 10 years despite conditions that are conducive to its clinical expression, as described in the corresponding chapter of the Aquatic Manual, may make a self-declaration of freedom from TS when basic biosecurity conditions have been continuously met in the country for at least the past 2 years. Self-declaration of freedom from yellowhead disease Brunei Darussalam satisfies the conditions laid down in Point 2 of Article 9.7.4 of the Aquatic Animal Health Code 2009: A country where the susceptible species referred to in Article 9.7.2. are present but there has been no observed occurrence of the disease for at least the past 10 years despite conditions that are conducive to its clinical expression, as described in the corresponding chapter of the Aquatic Manual, may make a self-declaration of freedom from YHD when basic biosecurity conditions have been continuously met in the country for at least the past 2 years. Self-declaration of freedom from infectious myonecrosis Brunei Darussalam satisfies the conditions laid down in Point 2 of Article 9.3.4 of the Aquatic Animal Health Code 2009: A country where the susceptible species referred to in Chapter 9.3.2 of the Aquatic Manual are present but there has been no observed occurrence of the disease for at least the past 10 years despite conditions that are conducive to its clinical expression, as described in Chapter 9.3.2 of the Aquatic Manual, may make a self-declaration of freedom from IMN when basic biosecurity conditions have been continuously met in the country for at least the past 2 years. 34
Self-declaration by Germany of freedom from notifiable avian influenza Information submitted on 22 April 2010 by Dr Karin Schwabenbauer, OIE Delegate for Germany and Ministerial Dirigent, Directorate of Animal Health and Food Hygiene, Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz (BMELV), Bonn, Germany The Federal Republic of Germany has declared itself free from notifiable avian influenza (AI), with effect from 24 February 2010. This date results from the three-month period specified in Article 10.4.3 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 2009 edition (the Terrestrial Code), after an outbreak of low pathogenicity AI (LPAI) occurred on a mixed poultry farm with approximately 2,400 animals (chickens, ducks and geese) in Thuringia on 19 November 2009. Following this outbreak, animals were culled and the affected holding was disinfected. news from colleagues Germany Emergency action taken by the authorities on the detection of low pathogenicity avian influenza Restrictions had already been imposed on the stock before detection of the virus, due to AI being suspected because of an increased number of deaths in the flock on 19 November 2009. Diagnostic culling in accordance with the sampling plan was conducted on the same day. The entire herd was depopulated on the day that LPAI H5 was detected (N2 was confirmed at a later date). Animals were culled by applying an electrical current under standardised procedure in accordance with Article 7.6.11. of the OIE Terrestrial Code. The carcasses, animal feed and eggs were safely disposed of by heat treatment with vapour pressure. These measures were concluded on the evening of 20 November 2009. The housing facilities were immediately cleansed and disinfected, using the following measures: the removal of solid manure or litter preliminary disinfection of the housing facilities preliminary cleaning with a soaking phase and subsequent drying phase final disinfection of the housing facilities. Solid manure and litter were piled up on the site and mixed with caustic lime (calcium oxide [CaO]) (100 kg/m³); a disinfectant was then applied to the surface of the manure pile. After an exposure time of six weeks, the pile of manure was moved or re-piled. A stipulation has been issued for spring 2010 that the manure is to be ploughed in on sites that are not used to produce feedstuffs. All objects made of wood (tools, troughs, support tools) and straw were burned under official supervision. Outdoor runs, including grass areas, were limed using caustic lime. The water from the facility was drained off. The inflow was then blocked and the facility limed (up to a ph value of 12). Measures were taken to control rodents during and after 35
disinfection. On 24 November 2009, the Competent Veterinary Authority inspected the disinfection. Immediate clinical and diagnostic laboratory tests of poultry from 91 hobby and small-sized holdings in the protection zone (a total of approximately 4,000 animals) yielded negative findings. Extensive investigations of animal movements into or out of the flock, and of contacts with vehicles, people or other relevant contacts, found no indications of disease spread into other animal flocks or herds. General measures in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza in Germany The National Avian Influenza Ordinance states the measures to be taken by the competent authorities in the event of an outbreak of either highly pathogenic AI (HPAI) or LPAI. The relevant European Community law was thus implemented. The required contingency plan was sent to the European Commission, which approved it, and will be updated if the need arises. The German Animal Disease Act complements the Ordinance and the contingency plan by including a rule making it compulsory for livestock keepers to immediately notify the competent authority of a suspected or actual outbreak of HPAI or LPAI. All measures taken have been supervised and checked by the competent authority. 36
Supervision of avian influenza on poultry farms and in wild birds For official compliance with animal health requirements to prevent the spread of animal diseases through livestock movement and to protect against AI, the following documentation is required: registration of holdings keeping a register authorisation of commercial transports, e.g. of poultry keeping a livestock and transport control book. This ensures effective monitoring of compliance with the legislation. Under Community law, the monitoring programme for AI in domestic poultry and wild birds, which was implemented in Germany a few years ago, will be continued. The livestock on chicken, turkey, duck and geese farms will be serologically and virologically examined for the presence of AI virus, in accordance with a fixed sampling scheme. The findings of the AI monitoring programme in Germany and in other Member States will be compiled, in due course, by the AI Community Reference Laboratory and the report will then be made available on the European Commission website. The latest report is from 2008 and is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/controlmeasures/avian/e u_resp_surveillance_en.htm. In 2009, in Thuringia, 326 samples were examined as part of the wild bird AI monitoring scheme. Six of those samples tested positive for AI. However, all six proved negative for H5 and H7 in subsequent diagnostic clarifications. Wild birds and domestic poultry will continue to be monitored for AI in Germany. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (Riems), the OIE Reference Laboratory for AI, regularly compiles an up-todate risk assessment, using all available data. Official preventive measures (such as the requirement to keep poultry indoors) are adapted for poultry farms on the basis of this risk assessment. In addition, the holding managers are reminded on a regular basis about the importance of on-farm biosecurity measures. The objective of these measures is, on one hand, to minimise the risk of an AI virus spreading into the domestic poultry population and, on the other hand, to quickly identify and eradicate a possible outbreak. news from colleagues 37