The Eurasian Economic Commission and the regional office of the World Organization for Animal Health (WHOH) held a seminar in Moscow for the veterinary authorities of the Eurasian Economic Union on WHO standards for avian influenza, as well as on the prevention and control of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The seminar was held in accordance with the approved program of activities for the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission and the WHO. Traditionally, it presented an overview of the WHO standards and changes made to the Terrestrial Animal Health Code in accordance with the stated topic.
The introduction and spread of the pathogen of highly pathogenic avian influenza pose an extreme danger to the development of poultry farming, since the mortality rate of livestock from it is approaching 100%. This leads to significant economic damage.
“The urgency of the issue under discussion is confirmed by the fact that highly pathogenic avian influenza is registered in many countries of the world and has the ability to cover significant territories and spread among both domestic and wild birds,” said Valentin Tataritsky, Minister for Technical Regulation of the EEC.
Budimir Plavshich, head of the WHO Regional office in Moscow, addressed the participants of the seminar with a video greeting, focusing on the importance of interaction and timely notification of outbreaks of avian influenza: “It is necessary to strengthen cooperation between the European members of the WHO and international organizations in the fight against highly pathogenic avian influenza based on the “Unified Health” approach. The key factor remains notification of illness, as well as transparent information exchange, ensuring business continuity and safe trading in accordance with our standards.”
The seminar participants got acquainted with the current epizootic situation in the world of avian influenza, including highly pathogenic, trends in its spread, and modern methods of control. Special attention was paid to the need to ensure biosafety of enterprises and farms, as well as vaccination issues.
In this regard, Viktor Irza, chief Researcher at the information and analytical center of FGBI “VNIIZH”, noted that vaccination of industrial poultry against highly pathogenic influenza is an important tool for controlling and eradicating this disease.
The audience was particularly interested in the presentation of Olivier Debaher, Director of the epizootic Control project of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry of France, who spoke about the positive practical experience of vaccination of certain poultry species in France.
Up-to-date information and knowledge gained during the seminar, the use of improved recommendations from the WHO will help veterinarians of the EAEU countries to effectively combat the spread of avian influenza, ensure the production and sale of safe food products, and protect the interests of its producers.
The seminar was attended in person and online by EEC staff, representatives and experts of the WHO, officials and experts of the authorized veterinary authorities of the EAEU states, specialists from leading subordinate institutes and laboratories. The event was also attended by representatives of the EAEU observer states – Uzbekistan and Cuba, the National Union of Poultry Farmers, the National Meat Association and the Rospticesoyuz.
The World Organization for Animal Health (WHOH) is the leading international organization responsible for ensuring global epizootic well–being and food security. The EEC and the WHO cooperate within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding of 2014 and the program of measures for its implementation for 2022-2024.
Avian influenza is a highly contagious, acute viral disease affecting agricultural, synanthropic and wild birds with damage to the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. It is capable of causing mass coverage of livestock and its high mortality rate. It is one of the diseases that are subject to mandatory notification in the WHO.
Source В ЕЭК состоялся семинар по актуальным вопросам гриппа птиц
