A consignment of 1 500 000 doses of trivalent vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) supplied by the European Commission to Turkey will arrive tomorrow, as a contribution towards the spring vaccination campaign against this disease in Turkish Thrace and adjacent areas. Foot-and-mouth disease is still endemic in large parts of Turkey, and already two outbreaks have been reported in 2007, in areas close to the border with Greece and Bulgaria.

Where complete culling of infected herds is not carried out, vaccination is the only disease control measure which can protect animals against infection from the foot-and-mouth disease virus. It is also essential in minimising the spread of the virus. The vaccines being sent by the EU are due to arrive in Turkey tomorrow, and vaccination will begin immediately. The vaccination campaign will be monitored by the FAO-based European Commission for the Control of FMD (EUFMD) and the Commission will continue to assist Turkey in its efforts to eradicate this disease.

For more information, see:

http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/controlmeasures/fmd_en.htm