FMD in Russia · FMD Asia-1 reported to the OIE system this year from neighbouring countries. However, various strains of virus, FMD A, O and Asia-1 have been reported in the last

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Animal and Plant Health Agency Veterinary & Science Policy Advice Team - International Disease Monitoring

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Preliminary Outbreak Assessment

Foot and Mouth Disease (serotype Asia-1) in Russia 24th October 2016 Ref: VITT/1200 FMD in Russia

Disease Report

Russia has reported a single outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in cattle in Vladimir region, West Russia. According to the disease report, 90 of 800 cattle showed clinical signs and the virus was confirmed as FMD serotype Asia-1 on the 16/10/2016 at the OIE reference laboratory in Vladimir (OIE, 2016; see map). The full sequence has not been provided yet, but when known may give an indication of the source. Disease control measures including vaccination have been put in place.

Situation Assessment

Russia has been declared as FMD free without vaccination across most of the country since 2015 and this is the first outbreak in this free area since then. Some other Russian regions, bordering FMD endemic countries or where livestock herding takes place have

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Animal and Plant Health Agency Veterinary & Science Policy Advice Team - International Disease Monitoring

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unknown status (see map above). Nevertheless, there have been no other outbreaks of FMD Asia-1 reported to the OIE system this year from neighbouring countries. However, various strains of virus, FMD A, O and Asia-1 have been reported in the last few years from the Middle East, particularly Turkey which is one the few countries in this region which does make regular reports. According to the World Reference Laboratory for FMD (The Pirbright Institute), other countries recently submitting samples testing positive for Asia-1 include Iran, where Asia 1/ASIA/Sindh-08 strain was isolated from cattle in the Alborz region, Northern Iran and Afghanistan where the same strain was detected in cattle in Faryab, North West Afghanistan (WRL FMD, 2016). Recent outbreaks of other diseases, including Lumpy Skin Disease to the South of Vladimir region and Sheep Pox to the North of the affected region indicate that cattle and small ruminant trade occurs in the area and there may not always be sufficient checks on these movements. It remains to be seen if the source of disease is the movement of live animals or another cause.

Conclusion

We consider there is a year-round low risk level for the introduction of Foot and Mouth Disease from any affected country into the UK with multiple potential pathways for introduction and this new outbreak does not change the risk level. Outbreaks of new strains in new areas do occur and are indicative of the highly contagious nature of the disease. Russia is not approved for legal trade with the EU for any FMD-susceptible livestock species and imports of products of animal origin should be treated or certified as originating in FMD free regions.

We will monitor the situation closely and remind all livestock keepers of the ban onswill feeding to livestock and that suspect cases of any notifiable disease, including vesicular disease should be reported to APHA.

Author Dr Helen Roberts

Dr Don King

References OIE (2016) Immediate Notification. FMD in Russia. OIE Report Number 21307.

http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/temp/reports/en_imm_0000021307_20161020_154349.pdf WRL FMD (2016) Quarterly Report July to September, 2016.

http://www.wrlfmd.org/ref_labs/ref_lab_reports/OIE-FAO%20FMD%20Ref%20Lab%20Report%20Jul-Sep%202016.pdf

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Animal and Plant Health Agency Veterinary & Science Policy Advice Team - International Disease Monitoring

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