The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) conducted the Regional Expert Group Meeting for Poultry Diseases in Asia and the Pacific Region from 31 October to 2 November 2022 in Geelong, Australia. The meeting brought together the concerned Reference Centres experts in the region, representatives from the Ministry of Veterinary Services, and other international organisations and institutes.
The meeting discussed the current epidemiological situation of avian diseases, especially avian influenza and Newcastle diseases in domestic and wild birds, the possible uses of new technologies such as automated samplers, more cost-effective laboratory-based and field-forward high-throughput sequencing platforms, and real-time metagenomics analytics to detect a variety of diseases including novel and emerging disease. The meeting highlighted the importance of regular information sharing among representatives from environmental, wildlife, livestock & agriculture, and human health sectors, and experts in international law and agreements using available platforms such as OFFLU and a regional laboratory network so that understanding of the epidemiology of avian diseases can be improved and better practices for sharing biological materials and sample information can enhanced.
Following the Expert Group meeting for Poultry Diseases, the WOAH Regional Laboratory Expert Meeting for African Swine Fever in Asia & the Pacific was convened in the same place from 2 to 4 November to update on current diagnostic tools, research into ASF virus and vaccine development in the region as well as to update on the current epidemiological situation in the region and discuss the regional contributions to the global ASF initiative. The meeting highlighted optimising surveillance to better detect low virulence/vaccine-related strains, field worker training, para-veterinarians, animal health workers, and laboratories, improving integration and communications between epidemiology and laboratory sectors, and considered setting up a regional response team to share resources and contribute to control efforts.
WOAH experts agreed continue their support for the development of the ASEAN ASF Control Strategy, the development of an ASF Laboratory algorithm manual and to generate a list of available reference reagents for ASF for access by Members.
Agenda and Presentations
