Coordination key to tackling rise in livestock diseases, says WOAH

Euractiv

4 days ago

Surveillance, early warning systems and cross-border cooperation are essential to combat climate change, trade and pathogens adaptation that are driving a rise in animal diseases in Europe, says Montserrat Arroyo, Deputy Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
In recent years, European farmers have faced the emergence of previously unknown animal diseases, such as lumpy skin disease (LSD), and the return of others once eradicated, like foot-and-mouth disease. In Greece, sheep and goat pox has been declared a national emergency, while periodic waves of bird flu and African swine fever have been hitting the continent since 2014.
According to Arroyo, the growing frequency of outbreaks requires adapting to a new reality.
What follows is an edited transcript.
What factors contribute to the emergence of diseases such as LSD in Europe, as seen in France and Italy?
In the case of LSD, we don't yet know exactly where it originated. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing. More broadly, the risk of disease incursions is rising due to climate change, trade evolutions, and changes in pathogen dynamics. These three factors are driving the emergence of diseases in places where they did not previously exist.
Could you elaborate on how these factors impact animal diseases?
For LSD, climate change certainly plays a role. It's a vector-borne disease, primarily transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks or flies. Temperature changes can enable these vectors to appear in areas where they were not previously present. In some cases, even extreme winds can transport them from one region to another.
What about trade?
Other possible origins of these outbreaks include transmission by an infected animal from an affected country or by imported equipment that has not been properly disinfected. We are seeing diseases emerge as a result of shifting consumption patterns. As populations move, their consumption habits and demand for certain products or animals change - and so do the associated risks.
Generally, we hope all countries apply the correct trade measures. However, travellers sometimes bring in products from their countries without complying with the sanitary restrictions designed to prevent this. In some countries, we're seeing an increase in illegal trade, which further increases the risks.
You also mentioned changes in pathogen dynamics. What does that mean?
Diseases evolve and adapt. Take avian influenza, for example: it used to only affect domestic poultry, but it has since evolved and spread to certain wild bird populations. This increases the risk to domestic animals when they come into contact with wildlife. We just need to monitor how pathogens are moving, understand how they affect different species, and try to respond accordingly.
We've also seen the emergence of other diseases like foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, and bluetongue. Is this part of a broader upward trend?
There have always been epidemics. But yes, we can say there has been an increase in outbreaks of diseases that were not previously present in the region. For example, it is the first time LSD has appeared in Continental Europe.
Do these outbreaks have a lasting impact on farms, and do they pose a growing threat to the EU's food security?
There are two types of impact: a direct one on producers, who are often severely affected, and a broader one on the country, which can be less severe if the disease is quickly contained. Take the example of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany. Fortunately, the impact was minor and well controlled because the disease was quickly identified and contained.
But some countries are unable to respond as quickly. This is sometimes because they do not have access to vaccines or because their veterinary services are not sufficiently supported. In Europe, resilience is quite good.
What does the WOAH recommend for managing disease outbreaks?
The only way to prevent a costly outbreak is to invest in veterinary services. In addition, we recommend establishing strong surveillance and early warning systems. It's also important to strengthen biosecurity, implement vector control measures, and carry out vaccination. And, of course, coordination between countries is essential.
Is the EU's regionalist approach, which focuses on affected regions rather than entire countries, a good method?
The regionalisation approach is an excellent tool. It can even be used to open markets when only half of a country is free of a particular disease.
The EU did not apply this measure to Brazil when it blocked poultry and meat exports to the bloc due to bird flu. What is your view on this?
Europe has very strict regulations on regionalisation. These apply to third countries but are based on the EU's risk assessment and the information those countries provide.
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