Second Meeting on Foot and Mouth Disease in East Asiaheld in Korea (Rep. of) on 18-20 June 2001
The Second Meeting on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Control in East Asia was held in Seoul, Korea (Rep. of) from 18 to 21 June 2001. This OIE meeting was organised in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Korea and attended by 36 participants from nine countries/territories (Australia, Hong Kong-China, Japan, Korea [Rep. of], Malaysia, Mongolia, Russia, Taipei China and the United States of America) and two international organisations (FAO-APHCA and OIE).
The first meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan, in June 2000, when certain countries in East Asia had experienced some cases of FMD with long intervals in between the cases. During this, the second meeting, many technical reports were presented in addition to country reports on the FMD situation.
Surveillance has actively been carried out to study and confirm the FMD epidemiological situation in the region. Intensive discussions were held on technical matters including difficulties associated with non-specific reactions in the commonly used serological tests and the need for standardised non structural protein (NSP) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), because some countries in East Asia have applied FMD vaccines to control the disease.
Recommendations from the meeting included the following: (1) development of capability to undertake comprehensive epidemiological assessments of the FMD situation, (2) development of OIE recommended standards for the epidemiological surveillance of FMD as a guide to assist countries in developing an appropriate surveillance programme for regaining or obtaining FMD free status, (3) promotion of good communications and public awareness, (4) collaborative research on the development of rapid diagnostic tests, on reduction or elimination of factors associated with non-specific serological reactions, and on internationally standardised tests for differential diagnosis between infection and vaccination, (5) attempt to limit the quantity of NSPs in manufactured FMD vaccines, and (6) collaboration between laboratories in the region to develop, standardise and validate FMD diagnostic techniques and research.
The meeting on FMD control in East Asia will be held at least once every two years to exchange information and strengthen international collaboration on FMD control activities in the region. In order to maintain momentum, members will provide a report on FMD control and research activities once a year to the OIE Regional Representation in Tokyo, Japan.