Download Lumpy skin disease control measures in the

"Challenges of Implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy" Forum
On 3 September 2016, starting at 10:00, in the
Valamar Diamant Hotel, (Ružmarin Hall) Brulo 1,
Poreč
Ljupka Maltar, dr. vet. med., Ministry of Agriculture:
Lumpy skin disease control measures in the Republic of Croatia in 2016.
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an infectious disease of cattle and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)
caused by a DNA virus from Poxviridae family, Chopoxvirinae subfamily and Capripoxvirus genus.
Research performed so far indicate a possibility of infection of other wild ruminants and further
research in this direction is required. It is essential to point out that the disease may not be
transmitted to humans.
The LSD was first described in 1929 in Africa and in 1970s it spread across Africa and the Middle East.
The disease suddenly spread in 2012 and afterwards when the virus was proven in cattle in Turkey
(Wainwright et al., 2013), Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Cyprus (source: World
Organisation for Animal Health, OIE). The first case of the disease in the territory of European Union
member states was confirmed in Greece in August 2015. Despite strict control measures aiming to
curtail the disease implemented in Greece, the LSD virus infection continued to spread and the
disease was confirmed in Bulgaria on 14 April 2016, in Macedonia on 21 April 2016, in Serbia on 8
June 2016, in Kosovo on 23 June 2016 and in Montenegro on 21 July 2016.
Even though, as stated above, the LSD is not a new disease, it is important to emphasise that it has
not been fully researched and all its routes of transmission, hosts and virus reservoirs are not known.
Still, it is known that the most significant role in transmission of the infection is played by vectors,
primarily various species of insects. Following the above, prevention, control and curbing the spread
of the LSD virus infection represents a challenge in scientific and legislative terms.
The Directorate for Veterinary Service and Food Safety of the Ministry of Agriculture continuously
monitors occurrence and progress of infectious diseases of animals in the world and it also
cooperates with institutions competent for health of animals and health of humans.
Taking into consideration all of the above, the Directorate for Veterinary Services and Food Safety
has intensified activities within the meaning of prevention and control of the relevant disease.
Considering experience of the neighbouring countries and the average rate of spread of the disease
of 20 km per hour as well as exceptionally strict measures to eradicate the disease implemented in
European Union member states – related to trade of live cattle, unprocessed hides and cattle semen,
cow milk and dairy products, fresh beef/veal, processed beef/veal and beef/veal products, as well as
destruction of all cattle found at farms where the disease was detected – the most effective methods
were sought to primarily prevent the disease and consequently to control and curb the disease.
Following consideration of the best possible options for control of the disease which primarily
involved professionals (a professional body) and available scientific knowledge as well as experience
of the states where the disease had already appeared, the final conclusion was that the only
acceptable measure was to vaccinate the susceptible population preventively – before the infection
has been confirmed in the territory of the Republic of Croatia. Before the final decision to perform
the vaccination was made, the professional body performed a risk analysis concerning occurrence of
the LSD in Croatia as well as a calculation of damage and economic justification of the preventive
vaccination. Based on the above, an immediate favourable effect of the vaccination in terms of
production and economy is not questionable.
Just as an example, in case of occurrence of lumpy skin disease in only 1,000 to 2,000 animals in
Croatia, estimated direct costs amount to 30 to 50 million kuna. Loss of genetic potential from farms
is practically immeasurable and it is also important to point out that the ability to restore herds
without subsequent vaccination would be questionable. The direct costs related to implementation
of the prescribed measures include costs of killing of all cattle at farms, cost of removal of carcasses
and cost of disinfection, direct and indirect costs of strict measures of control and prohibition of
trade in areas affected and threatened by the disease, cost of clinical exams of cattle in the
threatened areas, cost of establishment of crisis headquarters, involvement of other institutions –
the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior etc.,
Since the measure of preventive vaccination against the LSD was not foreseen by applicable
legislation of the European Union at the specified time, the Directorate for Veterinary Services
requested an urgent consent of the European Commission for implementation of the preventive
vaccination measure as the only reasonable option for preservation of cattle farming and milk
production as the most significant branches of agriculture.
In the meantime, a series of meetings was held with interested parties (farm owners, milk producers,
slaughterhouse operators, cattle growers) and organised by the Directorate for Veterinary Services
and Food Safety of the Ministry of Agriculture in order to reach a common decision on the
economically most acceptable solution for Croatia. Also, meetings with EU member states and the
European Commission are continuously taking place as well as intensive communication with the
states in the region.
It is important to point out that the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) published a report and
recommendation on effects of preventive vaccination against the LSD on 29 July 2016 and it
unambiguously determined that preventive vaccination is the most efficient measure for prevention
of the disease in the country and that, in cases of implementation of the measure of vaccination of
the entire applicable population in the country, the control measure of extraction of diseased
animals for herds is sufficient for successful control and subsequent eradication of the disease itself.
Implementation of the preventive vaccination measure in the territory of Croatia is prescribed by the
Order on measures to protect animals against infectious and parasitic diseases and their financing
from 1 April to 31 December 2016 (Official Gazette nos 31/16, 55/16 and 72/16). In determination of
the date of commencement of implementation of the measure, all factors of potential hazard of
possible ingress of LSD infection source into Croatia, animal population, availability of the vaccine as
well as effects of unimpeded trade of live cattle, unprocessed cattle hides and semen, cow milk and
dairy products, fresh beef/veal, processed beef/veal and beef/veal products. On 8 August 2016, a
vaccination drive began in Vukovar-Srijem, Osijek-Baranja, Brod-Posavina, Dubrovnik-Neretva and
Split-Dalmatia counties and it was spread to Lika-Senj, Šibenik-Knin and Zadar counties on 24 July
2016.
Considering implementation of the measure of vaccination of the entire cattle population in the
country and purposes of control of implementation of the measure and early detection of the LSD
virus, special conditions for trade by means of the Decision pertaining to trade of live cattle,
unprocessed cattle hide and semen, cow milk and dairy products, fresh beef/veal, processed
beef/veal and beef/veal products or until occurrence of the lumpy skin disease in the Republic of
Croatia or until special conditions for trade from the Republic of Croatia and the member states are
determined in a special procedure by the European Commission.
Conclusion
Implementation of the preventive measure of vaccination against the LSD is not questionable in
terms of its effectiveness in prevention of spreading of the LSD virus in the country as well as the
currently best measure to protect the cattle population in the country. Since the relevant disease has
never been confirmed in Croatia and on the basis of available information on the rate of spread of
the infection in the neighbouring countries and the current epidemiological situation, the preventive
vaccination started on time and that also confirms efficacy of veterinary professionals, full support
and assistance provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and acceptance of the measure by farmers.
Since there is no European legislation regulating the field of preventive vaccination and trade of live
animals and products made using vaccinated animals currently in place – even though the European
Commission indicated that the situation in Croatia significantly differs from the situation in the states
where the disease has been confirmed – it is necessary further pursue efforts to allow unimpeded
trade of vaccinated animals and to allow products made from such animals on the market.
Considering the current situation concerning the LSD in the neighbouring countries and numerous
outstanding issues related to epizootiology of the disease itself, it is not possible to scientifically
predict behaviour of the LSD virus in Europe. Therefore, cooperation between professionals,
veterinary services and animal owners, as well as effects of control of this as well as other diseases, is
of an exceptional significance in order to strengthen cattle farming and thereby the entire segment
of agriculture.