Context and Justification

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
As of April 2011, the WHO official count for the total number of human cases of HPAI had reached 552, including 322 deaths. Since HPAI was first recognised, several different strains of the virus have emerged, increasing concerns of an adaptation of the virus capable of human to human transmission. The virus' rising death toll and evidence of socio-economic damage demonstrate the need for implementation and dissemination of long-term preventative measures and cross border controls. According to FAO statistics, more than 175 million birds have been culled in Southeast Asia alone with 75% of all human deaths from HPAI occurring in the region. Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar have all experienced human infections of H5N1. While no cases of human infection have been reported in Mongolia, HPAI has been plaguing wild birds in the region, particularly along Mongolia's shared border with China.

Rabies

An acute viral encephalomyelitis, rabies principally affects carnivores and bats, although it can affect any mammal. Canine rabies predominates in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and transmission is almost always by introduction of virus-laden saliva into the tissues, usually by the bite of a rabid animal. While safe and effective Rabies vaccines for both humans and animals are available, the disease is of growing concern in many developing countries. According to the WHO, rabies occurs in more than 150 countries and out of the 55,000 annual reported human deaths from Rabies, 95% occur in Asia and Africa, mostly in children. In nearly 100% of cases, the onset of rabies can be prevented by simple measures including proper wound cleaning. However, due to a lack of public education and health infrastructure, animal and human patients alike die unnecessarily from the disease because cases are inadequately treated. Rabies is invariably fatal once clinical signs appear. Rabies is a serious public health concern in North Africa causing a heavy social and economic burden and its reintroduction represents a threat to Western European countries presently free of rabies in flightless animals.

African Swine Fever

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and one of the most serious transboundary animal diseases because of its high lethality for pigs, its crippling socio-economic consequences and its propensity for rapid and unanticipated international spread. Several factors contribute to the difficulty in prevention and management of ASF. For one, clinical signs of ASF are nearly indistinguishable from those of CSF and the two diseases normally have to be distinguished by laboratory diagnosis. There is no treatment or vaccine for ASF. Prevention therefore depends on ensuring that neither infected live pigs nor pig meat products are introduced into areas free of ASF. All successful eradication programs have involved the rapid diagnosis, slaughter, and disposal of all animals on infected premises. Sanitary measures must also be applied and include control of movement and treatment of waste food.

ASF is present in many sub-Saharan countries and in Eastern Europe. ASF was detected in the Caucus region beginning in Georgia in 2007 and spread across borders to neighbouring countries Armenia, Azerbaijan, and southern Russia. In late 2009, ASF was also confirmed in northwest Russia. There is also a danger that ASF could spread to other regions, including the EU, Eastern Europe, countries in the Black Sea basin and China, which has the world's largest pig population. All trade and import to the EU of live pigs and products of pig origin from the Caucus and Russia is banned.

Classical Swine Fever

Classical Swine Fever (CSF), also known as hog cholera, is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs. CSF has the potential to cause devastating epidemics, particularly in countries that are free of the disease and do not practice vaccination, thus exposing their entire pig population. Classical swine fever is on the OIE List A. Awareness and vigilance are essential so that outbreaks are detected early and control measures are instituted rapidly to prevent further spread. Reporting the disease to authorities is compulsory in many countries. Confirmed cases and in-contact animals should be slaughtered, combined with area restrictions on pig movements, or vaccination, depending on local disease control regulations.

While the disease has been eradicated in many countries, it is still prevalent in Asia, South America, Central America, Africa, and in some parts of Europe. CSF has been reported in several countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkan region and is likely to spread to other countries if the disease is not contained. Russia has reported numerous outbreaks in both wild and domestic swine. The latest outbreak, reported in February 2011, was near the borders of Ukraine and Belarus. While CSF has not yet affected humans, its impact on animal health and socio-economic viability of farms can be devastating; many swine die in as few as 15 days after first showing signs of the disease.

Peste-des-Petits Ruminants

Also known as Goat Plague, is an acute contagious disease affecting mainly sheep and goats and occasionally small ruminants living in the wild. The clinical disease resembles rinderpest in cattle and is economically one of the most significant animal diseases plaguing the African continent. Through the export of goats and sheep PPR has steadily spread throughout Africa in countries located between the Equator and the Sahara, in the Arabian Peninsula, throughout most of the Near East and Middle East, and Asia and has resulted in severe losses in ruminant herds.

According to the OIE, PPR has a 90% morbidity rate and a 50-80% mortality rate. In addition to transmission through direct contact, the disease can spread rapidly among animals through airborne pathogens. There is no specific treatment; however, treatment for bacterial and parasitic complications decreases mortality in affected flocks or herds. PPR is preventable by vaccination and effective farm biosecurity measures. The direct financial damage caused by PPR is aggravated by the high sanitary measures and trade restrictions imposed on developing countries that lack the finances, knowledge, and infrastructure to comply with international standards.