Brussels, 20/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The international scientific conference on foot and mouth, which took place on Tuesday in Paris, was closed with a call for an intensification of research, notably into new generations of vaccines and screening tests. This meeting was organised by the IOE (International Organisation of Epizooties) and the FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation). The experts asserted that the risks linked to certain products of animal origin should be re-assessed. Doctor Bernard Vallat, Director of the IOE, underlined, according to AFP, that the acidity of meat denatures the virus and that industrial processing of leathers and hides may contribute towards propagating it.
Experts also insisted on the need to take certain provisions to avoid the slaughtering of rare animal species, animals of great value and those that are the object of scientific research. Vaccination is among the provisions but, underlined Doctor Yves Chenneau from the FAO, we do not know if the vaccines presently used to protect pets will be effective to protect wild animals. According to AFP, scientists recommend, investing sufficiently to have a public service able to ensure protection in the face of contamination and in the long-term, ensure the eradication of the disease. They felt it useful to remind the countries of the protection measures to take in order to prevent the appearance of the Epizooties: ensure that food wastes unloaded in ports and airports are destroyed and control the respect for legislation that bans giving animals non-sterilised food waste. The governments that choose not to vaccinate must established effective control services to ensure the proper enforcement of this legislation, insisted Dr. Vallat. Also to call, with his colleagues, for raising the awareness of world public opinion and the governments to convince them of the value of enhancing the means of the veterinary services in order to better protect animals.
The IOE, intergovernmental organisation created in 1924, is responsible for informing governments of the existence or development of animal diseases in the world and the ways in which to fight them. The 157 member countries of the IOE will hold their annual session at the end of the month of June and will, on this occasion, carry out the revision of the list of countries free from foot and mouth.