SEACFMD Epidemiology Network Meeting

Background

WOAH, through close collaboration with Members and partners in the SEACFMD Campaign, continues to support the implementation of the Global FMD Control Strategy. The organisation is committed to strengthening Foot-and-Mouth Disease control and promoting safe trade across South-East Asia, China, and Mongolia. The SEACFMD Epidemiology Network (EpiNet) plays a key role in harmonising regional surveillance and control efforts, especially in light of recent challenges such as Indonesia’s loss of FMD-free status and shifting disease dynamics.

The upcoming SEACFMD EpiNet Meeting in China in May 2025 will mark the first in-person gathering of EpiNet focal points since the pandemic. Serving as a follow-up to the 2022 virtual joint EpiNet and LabNet meeting, the event will bring together experts to review the current FMD situation, analyse epidemiological trends, and guide the development of the next SEACFMD Roadmap beyond 2025.

Objectives

SEACFMD EpiNetwork Meeting will:

• Provide updates on the epidemiology of FMD, including the current situation, risks, and ongoing prevention and control activities.
• Review the progress of the past SEACFMD roadmap and discuss the next phase of SEACFMD Campaign.
• Identify new or changing FMD risks in the region and address technical challenges in analysing the FMD situation.
• Explore innovative tools to strengthen epidemiological tools and enhance risk analysis.