Simulation exercise: Foot and mouth disease in Albania

6 and 7 July 2021

Dr Keti Margariti, Delegate to the OIE and Head of Veterinary and Animal Welfare Sector of Albania, informed the OIE that the Albanian Veterinary Service will organise a drill Foot and mouth disease (FMD) simulation exercise, with the support of the European Commission for the Control of Foot and Mouth Disease (EuFMD). 

This activity will take place on 6 and 7 July 2021 and will be focused on the practical implementation of control measures in case of suspicion of an FMD outbreak. Through a guided and supervised activity, participants will have the chance to test specific SOPs relevant to the exercise’s objectives and foreseen for implementation in the national FMD contingency plan.

The main objective of the exercise is to identify strengths and weaknesses in the emergency preparedness and response of animal health crisis system in Albania and to make the participants aware of their legal obligations during the implementation of FMD control measures.

The specific objectives include:

• Assess the ability of field staff to carry out biosecurity procedures when entering and leaving the farm
• Assess the ability of field staff to carry out clinical examination and ageing of lesion
• Assess the ability of field staff to carry out epidemiological survey via interview and complete the epidemiological report form.
• Assess the ability of field staff to obtain and package samples for FMD laboratory examination

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World Animal Health Information and Analysis Department
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
[email protected]