Spain and Portugal carry out a simultaneous foot-and-mouth disease simulation

Spain and Portugal, together with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the EuFMD (The European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease), started today a joint test for the simulation of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, that will take place on March 12th, 13th and 14th 2019 in Jerez de los Caballeros (Badajoz).

The test will be based on a foot-and-mouth disease suspicion on two cattle farms located in the Spanish-Portuguese borderland, and will count on the participation of 70 veterinarians registered in the Official Veterinary Services (OVS) of both countries at a national, regional and local level.

During the test, the suspicious farms will be visited and work in groups (consisting of representatives of both countries) will be carried out for the joint discussion and tackling of the tasks suggested relative to the actions of the Official Veterinary Services, both on the suspicious farms and at the Local Crisis Centres.

The global goal of the simulation is to encourage the coordination, the relationship and the exchange of information between the Spanish and Portuguese veterinary services in order to improve the responsiveness before health emergency situations due to the emergence of foot-and-mouth disease suspicions in the borderland.

The specific goals of the simulations are:

• The updating of knowledge regarding foot-and-mouth disease, its global situation with a special focus on the serotypes that are circulating in the Mediterranean region, including aspects about the role of wild fauna regarding the disease.
• Facilitate the communication and collaboration of the Spanish and Portuguese OVSs in the borderland.
• Assess the suitability of the Contingency Plans against foot-and-mouth disease and improve them through the detection of possible deficiencies and their correction.
• Improve the information communication and exchange protocols between the Official Veterinary Services on both sides of the border.
• Increase the mutual knowledge on protocols and contingency plans regarding the disease.