This SADC Control Strategy for Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a multilateral document emphasizing the need for a coordinated regional approach to PPR control. Despite the diversity in farming systems, animal health service policies, cultural practices, small ruminant populations, country sizes, and other factors influencing each member state's risk exposure to PPR, certain aspects of national strategies—particularly those related to surveillance and vaccination—must be harmonized with neighboring states to ensure success. Furthermore, as PPR is a new disease in the region, there is a need to build regional expertise in the following areas: (i) diagnosis and surveillance, (ii) identification of susceptible host species, (iii) differentiation of infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA) to distinguish between antibodies from vaccination and those from the disease, and (iv) legislation regarding the use of the PPR vaccine. Countries already infected and those at high risk must be supported to implement urgent measures to prevent further southward spread of the disease. These measures should include updating or developing preparedness plans, strengthening controls on animal movement from infected areas, enhancing surveillance, and raising awareness among all stakeholders. In infected countries, strict control of animal movement and vaccination of small livestock is recommended until freedom from clinical disease is demonstrated. In high-risk areas, vaccination should continue until the risk is significantly reduced. In low-risk and disease-free areas, intensified surveillance is necessary to confirm the continued absence of the disease. If the disease appears in these areas, a strategy of immediate eradication in small foci, followed by vaccination, is advised. The main objectives of the Strategy are (i) immediately contain/control the PPR virus circulating in DRC and Tanzania; (ii) prevent the disease from spreading to Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia; (iii) propose a methodology for the long term eradication of PPR from the SADC region. The document outlines different measures to control the spread of the disease (i) early warning and preparedness, with all countries having contingency and emergency preparedness plans that spell out what actions must be taken in the event of a PPR outbreak. The outline of the contingency plan must include surveillance, risk factors, stakeholder identification, and analysis and action plans. Additionally, PPR control needs a risk-based approach so that efforts can be concentrated on critical points of the disease transmission cycle to make sure that chances of success and impact are maximized; (ii) control options, including vaccination, stamping out (usually where the infected population is small and well defined and the government has mechanisms in place to compensate the affected farmers), zoning (protection), observe strict biosecurity and biosafety measures, and create awareness among farmers, traders, politicians, community leaders, the media, law enforcement officers, and the general public at large; (iii) diagnosis and quality control; (iv) regional coordination and communication, at two levels: the regional office with the Member States and the regional office with other regional economic groupings; (v) post-vaccination/containment process, because the effectiveness of the vaccination strategy should be reviewed within an appropriate timeframe. It is suggested that 3-to-5 years of vaccination should be completed before assessing its effectiveness; (vi) research.
2012-01-01