SOMALILAND ANIMAL DISEASE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN

March 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. I ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................ III 1. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Information on Somaliland ....................................................................................... 1 1.2 Animal Disease Emergencies: Their Nature and Potential Consequences ............ 2 1.3 The Benefits of Animal Disease Emergency Preparedness Planning ....................... 3 1.4 The Principles of Animal Disease Emergency Preparedness Planning .................... 5 2. A COORDINATED NATIONAL APPROACH TO ANIMAL DISEASE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING IN SOMALILAND ......................... 7 2.1 Animal Disease Emergency Task Force ................................................................... 7 2.2 Animal Disease as a component of the National Disaster Plan ................................ 7 2.3 Organizational Structure of the Ministry of Livestock in Somaliland ...................... 8 2.4 Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning Committee ................................. 8 2.5 Organizational Structure of the Department of Animal Health & Production ......... 9 2.6 Animal Disease Control Centre for Somaliland ..................................................... 10 2.7 Local Animal Disease Control Centres................................................................... 11 2.8 Difficult or Marginalized Areas .............................................................................. 12 3. RISK ANALYSIS OF INTRODUCTION AND SUSTENANCE OF TRANSBOUNDARY ANIMAL DISEASES IN SOMALILAND .............................. 13 3.1 Rinderpest ............................................................................................................... 13 3.2 Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) ........................................................................... 14 3.3 Rift Valley Fever (RVF) ......................................................................................... 14 3.4 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) ........................................................... 14 3.5 Risk Mitigation of Animal Disease Emergency in Somaliland .............................. 14 4. EARLY WARNING CONTINGENCY PLANNING.............................................. 16 4.1 Disease Surveillance ............................................................................................... 16 4.2 Emergency Disease Reporting and Response in Somaliland ................................. 16 4.3 Emergency Disease Information System ................................................................ 17 4.4 Training of Veterinarians and other Animal Health Staff in Early Recognition of Emergency Animal Diseases and Collection and Dispatch of Diagnostic Specimens . 17 4.5 Laboratory Diagnostic Capability ........................................................................... 18 4.6 International Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres ........................... 18 4.7 International Disease Reporting .............................................................................. 19 4.8 Regional Organizations ........................................................................................... 19 5. EARLY REACTION CONTINGENCY PLAN ....................................................... 21 5.1 Preventing the Entry of Exotic Diseases ................................................................. 21 5.2 General Principles of Emergency Livestock Disease Control in Somaliland......... 21 6. CONTINGENCY PLANS .......................................................................................... 25 6.1 Nature of the Disease .............................................................................................. 25 6.2 Risk Assessment (Including Potential Consequences) ........................................... 25 6.3 Diagnosis and Surveillance ..................................................................................... 25 6.4 Principles of Control and Eradication ..................................................................... 25 6.5 Policy and Rationale ............................................................................................... 26 6.6 Action Plan.............................................................................................................. 26 6.7 Appendices .............................................................................................................. 26 i

6.8 Standard Operating Procedures............................................................................... 26 6.9 Enterprise Manuals ................................................................................................. 27 7. SUPPORT PLANS ...................................................................................................... 28 7.1 Financial plans ........................................................................................................ 28 7.2 Resource Plans ........................................................................................................ 28 7.3 Legislation............................................................................................................... 28 8. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION ............................................................... 29 8.1 FAO Reference Laboratories .................................................................................. 29 8.2 FAO Collaborating Centres .................................................................................... 32

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ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS
APHCA: Regional Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

ASEAN: ASF: AU/IBAR: BSE: CBPP: CVO:

Association of Southeast Asian Nations African swine fever African Union/inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources Bovine spongiform encephalopathy Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia Chief Veterinary Officer (or the Director of Veterinary Services or other Equivalent position). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Emergency Prevention system for Transboundary Animal and Plant pests and Diseases. European Commission for the control of Foot-and Mouth Disease Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Foot-and-mouth disease. Geographic Information System Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme International Atomic Energy Agency. International Air Transport Authority Ministry Of Livestock National Disaster Management Authority of Somaliland. Non-governmental Organization International Office of Epizootics/Office international des epizootics Pan-African Rinderpest Campaign iii

ELISA: EMPRES:

EUFMD: FAO: FMD: GIS: GREP: IAEA: IATA: MOL: NERAD: NGO: OIE: PAHO:

PPR:

Pest des petits ruminants

RADISCON: Regional Animal Disease Surveillance and Control Network. RVF: SADC: SPC: TAD: TADINFO: VAI: WHO: WWW. Rift Valley Fever. Southern African Development Community South Pacific Community Transboundary Animal Disease Transboundary Animal Disease Information System. Virulent avian influenza World Health Organization World-Wide Web.

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1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Information on Somaliland Somaliland is located at the horn of Africa between latitudes 80 and 11030 north and longitudes 430 and 49030 east. It borders the Gulf of Aden to the north, Somalia to the east, Ethiopia to the south, and Djibouti to the North West. It has an estimated area of 137,600KM2 with a coastline of 850 KM. The country is divided into 6 regions namely Togdheer, Sahil, Awdal, Hargeisa, Sanag and Sool. The average amount of rainfall ranges between 100 300mm per annum. The rains are unpredictable both spatially and temporally. Long-term disruption of water sources and rangeland management are major contributors to poverty and lower the peoples overall quality of life. Somaliland was colonized by Britain, and was called Somaliland Protectorate and achieved its independence on 26th June 1960. Soon after independence, Somaliland united with the rest of Somalia on 1st July 1960, under the name of the Republic of Somalia. Before the union, the rest of Somalia was colonized by Italy, and had achieved its independence on 1st July 1960. For the first 9 years, there was a democratically elected government in Somalia with a president, a prime minister, and a parliament. During that period, participation of the private sector in national development was strong, and Somalia economy was growing rapidly. However, a military revolution took place on 21st October 1969 and the military regime took control of the country. The new military regime declared Somalia to be a socialist state and all sectors of development were monopolized by the government. The military system of administration lasted for 21 years. During this period the national development continued to deteriorate and, together with occurrence of many civil conflicts, led to the collapse of the military Government in early 1991, followed by destruction of all vital infrastructures. 1.1.1 Somaliland Livestock Sector The livestock sector is the backbone of the Somaliland economy since it produces employment opportunities 70%, foreign currency earnings 85% and Gross Domestic Products 60%. However, the decay of key private and public sector institutions following the collapse of the military regime in 1991 resulted in the poor delivery of animal health services to support Somali livestock production and trade. Suspicions of the presence of major epizootic diseases of livestock led to the imposition of livestock bans by major importing countries. Therefore the need for the rehabilitation and strengthening of institutions to improve animal genetic resources and the delivery and regulation of animal health services that conform to international standards for trade in livestock and livestock products became absolutely desirable.

MAP OF SOMALILAND

1.2 Animal Disease Consequences

Emergencies:

Their

Nature

and

Potential

Animal disease emergencies may occur when there are unexpected outbreaks of epidemic diseases or other animal health-related events which have the potential to cause serious socio-economic consequences for a country. These emergencies are frequently caused by outbreaks of transboundary animal diseases (TADs), which are of significant economic, trade and/or food security importance for many countries. Such diseases can spread easily and reach epidemic proportions; control/management, including exclusion, requires cooperation among several countries. The occurrence of one of these diseases may have disastrous consequences for a country when they: compromise food security through serious loss of animal protein and/or loss of draught animal power for cropping; cause major production losses for livestock products such as meat, milk and other dairy products, wool and other fibres and skins and hides; cause losses of valuable livestock of high genetic potential. They may also restrict opportunities for upgrading the production potential of local livestock industries by making it difficult to import exotic high-producing breeds that are extremely susceptible to TADs; add significantly to the cost of livestock production since costly disease control measures need to be applied; seriously disrupt or inhibit trade in livestock, germplasm and livestock products, either within a country or internationally. Their occurrence may thus cause major losses in national export income in significant livestock-producing countries; inhibit sustained investment in livestock production, thus trapping livestock producers in uneconomic, peasant-type agriculture; cause public health consequences where diseases can be transmitted to humans (i.e. zoonoses); cause environmental consequences when wildlife populations die out; and 2

cause unnecessary pain and suffering to many animals. The International Office of Epizootics (OIE) recognizes a list of diseases, most of which could also be regarded as being TADs. These include Foot-and-Mouth Disease(FMD), Rinderpest, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Rift Valley Fever (RVF), Lumpy Skin Disease, Vesicular Stomatitis, Swine Vesicular Disease, Bluetongue, Sheep and Goat Pox, African Horsesickness, African Swine Fever, Hog Cholera (classical swine fever), Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease. Other viral, bacterial, rickettsial and mycoplasmal diseases may also be regarded as having the potential to cause animal disease emergencies under some circumstances. Indeed, they may not necessarily be infectious diseases. For example, animal pests such as the New World and Old World screwworm flies may fit into this category. Most people tend to equate emergency animal diseases with exotic or foreign animal diseases, although this is not necessarily so. Unusual outbreaks of endemic diseases may also cause an emergency when there is, for instance, the appearance of a new antigenic type such as a significantly different FMD virus subtype in an endemic country or when there is a significant change in the epidemiological pattern of the disease such as an unusually severe outbreak of anthrax. The emergence of previously unknown diseases may also cause an emergency, as in the case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United Kingdom in 1986, equine paramyxovirus disease (Hendra virus) in Australia in 1994 and Nipah virus disease of pigs and humans in peninsular Malaysia in 1999. There are other animal health emergencies that may be caused by non-disease events, for example a major chemical residue problem in livestock or a food safety problem such as haemorrhagic uraemic syndrome in humans caused by verotoxic strains of E. coli contaminating animal products. In Somaliland, the most important transboundary animal diseases include Rinderpest, Contagious Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia, Rift Valley Fever, PPR and Contagious Caprine Pleuro-Pneumonia, while Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza cannot be ignored given its present global evolution and geographical spread. 1.3 The Benefits of Animal Disease Emergency Preparedness Planning An animal disease emergency such as an outbreak of a transboundary animal disease can have serious socio-economic consequences which, in extreme cases, may affect the whole national economy. For example, in Somaliland livestock production has been the mainstay for the people. Livestock production is predominantly pastoral and agro pastoral employing over 70% of the population. Livestock production contributes 60% of GDP and about 85% of foreign export earnings. Livestock is the source of pastoral livelihoods, contributes to government revenues and provides employment to a wide range of professionals and other service providers. Somaliland has had a long history of live animals export to the Arabian Gulf states through the Berbera port. These exports have experienced a series of trade embargos due to suspicions of diseases like Rift Valley Fever, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and suspected presence of rinderpest. The bans have adversely affected the income and livelihoods of pastoralist families and the national economy in general. 3

It is extremely important that a new disease be recognized quickly while it is still localized and prompt action taken to contain and then progressively eliminate it since this enhances the chances of eradication of the disease. Conversely, eradication may be extremely difficult, costly and even impossible if the disease is not recognized and appropriate control action taken before it becomes widespread or established in wildlife. The target should always be to eliminate progressively and finally eradicate a transboundary animal disease (and prove that national or zonal freedom has been regained) if epidemiological and other circumstances are favourable. The alternative approach of simply living with the disease through the institution of routine vaccination campaigns and/or other disease control measures will in the end prove far more costly and will be a permanent constraint to efficient livestock production systems. Furthermore, the continuing presence of a TAD in a country, even if losses are minimized by effective disease control programmes, will inhibit the opening of export trade opportunities for livestock and livestock products. Eradication of the disease and provision of scientific proof of freedom from the disease to a level of international acceptability will remove this constraint to international trade. In Somaliland, the animal health services recognizes that contingency planning and other preparedness programmes for animal disease emergencies provide the key to mounting early effective action in the face of an emergency. It is worthy of note that Somaliland has declared vision, mission and policy for the livestock sector. The vision envisages that by the year 2016, there should be a livestock sector, which to a large extent shall be healthy, productive and sustainable to ensure food security, increased household incomes and improved national economy while conserving the environment. The mission is to ensure that the livestock resources are developed and managed sustainably through collaboration with stakeholders, for the purpose of improving food security, improving livelihoods and contributing to the national economy. The ministrys strategies are designed to: Co-ordinate development inputs and, monitor and regulate the livestock sector in the country Implement realistic, comprehensive and dynamic livestock policies that take into account other related policies. Develop competent sector professionals of high integrity to promote investments in the livestock industry. In addition, the Somaliland National Livestock Policy strives to provide guidelines, coordination and regulation of the livestock sector in order to increase its efficiency in terms of production and productivity for the betterment of the livelihoods of livestock producers and improvement of the Somaliland economy, through focused use of resources. Specific objectives are stated to promote national food security to meet nutritional requirements, promote animal health assurance and human health protection. Others include to increase the quantity and quality of livestock and livestock products as raw materials for local industries and export and to promote integrated use of natural resources related to livestock production while protecting the environment. The policy also provides for the adoption and application of new technologies relevant for livestock production to improve human resources and strengthen technical support requirements in the livestock sector and the .production of safe food to safeguard consumers. 4

1.4 The Principles of Animal Disease Emergency Preparedness Planning The two fundamental components of animal disease emergency preparedness planning are the development of capabilities for: early warning, and early reaction to disease epidemics and other animal health emergencies. This is the basis of the present effort at the preparation of this generic written plan to be followed by disease specific contingency plans and operating procedures. This would be accompanied by the testing of the plans, training of staff; the development of capabilities at national, provincial and local veterinary headquarters, including field and laboratory services; development of mechanisms to involve other necessary government and private sector services and livestock farming communities in the emergency response; development of the capacity to apply all the necessary resources to counter transboundary animal diseases or other animal health emergency in the most efficient way. Efforts at securing necessary equipment, personnel and finances as well as advance establishment of the appropriate legal and administrative structures to deal with an emergency are also described and discussed. 1.4.1 Early warning of diseases The Government of Somaliland is aware that early warning enables rapid detection of the introduction of, or sudden increase in, the incidence of any disease of livestock which has the potential of developing to epidemic proportions and/or causing serious socioeconomic consequences or public health concerns. It embraces all initiatives, mainly based on disease surveillance, reporting and epidemiological analysis that would lead to improved awareness and knowledge of the distribution and behaviour of disease outbreaks (and of infection) and which allow forecasting of the source and evolution of the disease outbreaks and the monitoring of the effectiveness of disease control campaigns. The Government therefore first developed a national livestock policy and strategies designed to address constraints in the livestock sector and in compliance with local, regional and international obligations in matters related to animal health and livestock trade. The strategies proposed in this policy document take the following into consideration: National Veterinary Code and other laws of Somaliland OIE terrestrial animal health code. AU/IBAR recommendations for disease control policies and strategies for East African countries. WTO/SPS requirements/agreements in livestock and agricultural products trade. FAO/IAEA recommendations on accreditation for the purpose of sanitary measures of inspection and certification protocols and procedures of implementation for the export and import of livestock and livestock products. The Joint Needs Assessment (WB/UN/GOSL/JNA) (2006) report. The report has described the livestock sector development needs (not all the priorities were emphasised in the report) towards attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by the year 2015.

The process for this policy development involved consultative, participatory, interactive and consensus building approaches and was thus inclusive and transparent. At the end, a stakeholders workshop was held where the findings of the study were discussed. The workshop participants proposed to the Ministry of Livestock to engage a task force to formulate the national livestock policies. The members of the task force represented all the major livestock sector institutions within Somaliland. A complete draft of the policy document was circulated to a total of 15 different institutions in Somaliland where it was subjected to review and critique. This was followed by a stakeholders workshop where consensus was reached on all the issues on this policy. The National Livestock Policy emphasized The improvement of animal health delivery and diagnostic services to protect the national herd. Improvement of veterinary public health services to protect and safeguard consumers locally and internationally. Maximization and commercialization of animal production where possible to meet income demands of the producers and the national nutritional requirements. Fostering Trade in livestock and livestock products, Promotion of research, continuous professional development and strengthening of institutional capacity (public and Private) for effective service delivery.

In addition guidelines on privatization of veterinary services were developed for Somaliland defining the roles of public and private veterinary services in areas of clinical veterinary services, Brucella diagnosis for livestock export trade, Veterinary drugs importation and distribution, Preventive veterinary medicine and Public health service Master plan for Ministry of Livestock The master plan for the Ministry of Livestock (MoL) was developed in 2001 with the support of Terra Nuova, the Somali PACE project, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), VetAid, and the Ministry of Livestock. The Master plan is a key policy instrument which guides the functioning of MoL and its departments. The master plan focuses on operating an efficient and effective organizational structure of the ministry which has the following components: Clear chain of command and division of labour (job description) and Accountability at central, regional and district levels. Participatory decision making. In built motivational factors such as upward progression (proper schemes of service), remuneration of both collective and individual efforts, provision of working tools, equipment and facilities, smooth and quick flow, dissemination, storage and retrieval of information (including feed back mechanisms) Emergency preparedness (rapid responses)

2. A COORDINATED NATIONAL APPROACH TO ANIMAL DISEASE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING IN SOMALILAND The responsibility for dealing with animal disease emergencies resides with the Minister of Livestock under the direct technical and professional supervision Director-General of the Ministry of Livestock. The Director of Animal Health has overall technical responsibility with regard to preparedness for and management of animal health emergencies. The appropriate government minister would of course be ultimately responsible. Where such animal disease emergencies have a significant public health component, such as Rift Valley Fever or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza negotiations would be carried out between the Ministry of Livestock and the Ministry of Health on a joint framework for preparing contingency plans and for other complementary preparedness programmes. This would include decisions on the most efficient mechanisms for coordinating emergency responses, for implementing disease control and eradication programmes and for sharing responsibilities. Appropriate opportunities for sharing resources between the two Ministries should also be explored so as to avoid unnecessary duplication.

2.1 Animal Disease Emergency Task Force In Somaliland an Animal Disease Emergency Task force has been appointed to facilitate and coordinate emergency planning. This Task Force which is directly accountable to the Minister of Livestock and is charged with the responsibility of preparation, monitoring and approval of contingency plans for high priority animal diseases and liaison with relevant persons and organizations such as the national veterinary association, livestock industry groups, the national disaster management authority and departments of finance, health and wildlife for appropriate response to animal disease emergencies. The Task Force is expected to assist the Ministry of Livestock in the development of active disease surveillance and epidemiological analysis capabilities and of emergency reporting systems and overall monitoring of the national state of preparedness for animal health emergencies. 2.2 Animal Disease as a component of the National Disaster Plan In Somaliland, Animal Disease Emergencies are not yet integrated into the National Disaster Plan. There is currently an awareness to effect this as is provided for in other countries in the Horn of Africa Region and to make provisions for the establishment of a National Livestock Disease Emergency Commission. This Commission would comprise of representatives of the ministerial disease control task force acting as the technical arm of the commission, Office of the President/ Cabinet office for high level political coordination and support, the Ministry of health for Zoonosis Control, Ministry of Finance for financial coordination, Ministry of Interior for prompt engagement of local authorities/ Municipalities 7

and Police forces as well as the Ministry of Planning for logistic support and soliciting international assistance. The national disease emergency commission would be expected to ensure that finance, human resources, enforcement units, international assistance and other resources are forth coming during a national emergency response declared by the MoL Minister as well as ensure that all logistical support and other stakeholders are informed and involved in the national emergencies declared by the MoL Minister.

Fighting a disease epidemic or combating other animal health emergencies is in many respects like fighting a war and requires the same level of discipline. It requires the same ability to make rapid decisions based on analysis of the best information that can be made available from all sources, to convert those decisions into clear orders which can be conveyed down the chain to those who are charged with the responsibility of carrying them out and to know that orders have been carried out and with what results. There must therefore be efficient mechanisms in place for the transmission of information and instructions from the national veterinary services headquarters to the front line of the disease eradication campaign in the field and laboratory and for feedback of information to headquarters. It is clear that for these things to happen quickly and efficiently in an emergency, the veterinary services of Somaliland must be placed in a command structure or linemanagement system at least for the duration of the emergency response.

2.3 Organizational Structure of the Ministry of Livestock in Somaliland The organizational structure of the Ministry of Livestock has a strong veterinary authority with a clear chain of command for effective and reliable delivery of veterinary services . The structure has at the top H. E the Minister of Livestock, next H.E, the State Minister of Livestock followed by the Director-General. Reporting to the Director-General are three Directors in-charge of: Department of Animal Health and Production. Department of Extension, Training and Research. Director of Administration, Personnel and Finance.

The Department of Animal Health and Production has six technical sections, namely Animal Health , Public Health , Animal Production , Epidemiology , Pharmaceuticals, and Biological and Marketing . The Planning Department has three sections that includes , Extension, Training and Research while the Support, Finance and Administration Department has two sections namely Finance , Accounting and Personnel.

2.4 Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning Committee In June 2008 an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan Committee for Somaliland was formed and consisted of: The Director of Veterinary services. Officer in charge of the Epidemiology and data Management Unit (EDMU). 8

Representative of the Somaliland National veterinary Association (SOLNAVA). Representative of the United Livestock Professional Association.(ULPA) Representative of the National Environmental Research and Disaster Preparedness (NERAD). Representative of the Local Government. Ministry of Health VetAid Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Somali Animal Health Services Project (SAHSP) Pastoral Environment Network in the Horn of Africa (PENHA).

2.5 Organizational Structure of the Department of Animal Health & Production

Department Of Animal Health & Production

Disease Control and Laboratory Services Division

Public Health Division

Disease control section

Vector and predator control section

Laboratory Services section

Quality control and legislation

Zoonosis Section

Food Hygiene Section

ti
Meat Inspection

ti

For Animal Disease Emergency Response, the chain of command and reporting route is as shown below:

Minister of Livestock

State Minister of MoL

Director General Of MOL

Director of Animal Health

Emergency response Unit &Diseases Surveillance

Central Level (Headquarters) Local Level Region, District

Field

RVCOs Field

DVO

Private field operators SVPs &Public etc ,sCBAHW ,sMeat Inspector Field Field Field

Field

Field

2.6 Animal Disease Control Centre for Somaliland The central Animal Disease Control Centre would reside in the office of the Director of Animal Health who should assign responsibility to a senior veterinary officer in charge of the Disease Surveillance and Emergency Response Unit of his department. In the event of an outbreak of an emergency animal disease, the centre should be responsible to the Director of Livestock for coordinating all emergency disease control measures in Somaliland. The epidemiology unit should either be attached to the centre or should work 10

in close collaboration with it. The responsibilities of the animal disease control centre in the emergency response would include: implementing the disease control policies decided by the Director of Livestock and the Animal Disease Emergency Task Force. directing and monitoring the operations of local animal disease control centres. maintenance of up-to-date lists of available personnel and other resources, and details of where further resources may be obtained. deployment of staff and other resources to the local centres; ordering and dispersing vaccines and other essential supplies; monitoring the progress of the campaign and providing technical advice to the Director of Animal Health. advising on the definition and proclamation of the various disease control zones. liaison with other groups involved in the emergency response, including those that may be activated as part of the national disaster plan. preparation of international disease reports and, at the appropriate times, cases for recognition of zonal or national freedom from the disease. management of farmer awareness and general publicity programmes, including press releases.

The animal disease control centre should be fully equipped with a range of maps covering all parts of Somaliland (preferably at 1:50,000), and all suitable communication equipment for liaison with local animal disease control centres, veterinary laboratories, etc., by telephone, radio, e-mail and facsimile, as appropriate. 2.7 Local Animal Disease Control Centres During an emergency, one or more local animal disease control centres should be set up preferably at the District levels and preferably within easy reach of the infected zones of the disease outbreak. Ideally they would be sited so that teams are able to travel to and from any site for surveillance or any other disease control activities on the same day. The local animal disease control centre should be fully equipped with offices, maps, communication equipment to contact both field personnel and the National Animal Disease Control Centre, vehicles and fully stocked central stores. Central cold-storage facilities for vaccines should also be located at or within easy access of the centre. The centre should have simple equipment that will allow it to process and dispatch diagnostic specimens, including serum samples. Each local animal disease control centre should be under the control of an experienced senior field veterinary officer. This officer should be given the responsibility for directing the emergency disease control and eradication programme within the area, under the general supervision of the central animal disease control centre and the Director of Animal Health. The officer in charge of the centre should be given the authority to: designate a farm, herd or community as an infected premises, when necessary, after consultation with, and with the agreement of, the central animal disease centre. 11

quarantine infected and dangerous contact premises. send surveillance teams to all places where there are susceptible livestock. deploy the necessary staff to infected premises to arrange valuation, slaughter and safe disposal of animals, cleaning and disinfection. advise on the delineation of infected, surveillance and control zones, and on the measures to be taken in them. impose livestock movement restrictions. organize and implement vaccination programmes where applicable. carry out insect vector control programmes, if necessary; liaise with police and other authorities over the maintenance of disease control restrictions. carry out publicity and public awareness campaigns.

Depending on the type of disease control strategy chosen, there will be a need for disease surveillance teams, vaccination teams, quarantine and livestock movement control staff, valuers, infected premises teams (livestock slaughter, disposal, cleaning and disinfection), administrative staff (stores and general administration) and a public relations/education officer. 2.8 Difficult or Marginalized Areas Where Somaliland is faced with the situation where they have to deal with an outbreak of an epidemic livestock disease in areas that are difficult for geographical reasons or because they are relatively inaccessible owing to civil unrest or because they practise nomadism or transhumance, special arrangements would be made using Community Animal Health Workers, NGOs and livestock associations.

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3. RISK ANALYSIS OF INTRODUCTION AND SUSTENANCE OF TRANSBOUNDARY ANIMAL DISEASES IN SOMALILAND Risk analysis comprises three components: risk assessment, risk management and risk communication. Risk assessment of a transboundary animal disease emergency involves estimation of the risks and likelihood of such a disease occurring and evaluation of its potential consequences. Risk management is the process of identifying, documenting and implementing measures to reduce risks and their consequences while risk communication is the process of exchange of information and opinions on risk between risk analysts and stakeholders which consist of all those who could be affected by the consequences of risks, that is, everyone from livestock farmers to politicians. In Somaliland the major transboundary animal diseases that are regarded as priority disease based on their socio-economic and food security consequences as well as their potential public health impact are Rinderpest (RP), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Rift Valley Fever (RVF) and possibly Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Other TADs include Contagious Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia (CBPP), Contagious Caprine PleuroPneumonia (CCPP) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

3.1 Rinderpest With respect to Rinderpest, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that the disease/infection still exists in Somaliland. There has not been any confirmed clinical disease for over twenty years and results of sero-surveillance that was carried out under the Somali PACE project in 2004 showed that all the cattle herds tested were serologically negative and the last rinderpest vaccinations in Somaliland were carried out in 1993. In the larger Somali ecosystem, the last rinderpest vaccinations were carried out in Southern Somalia and Northern Kenya in November-December 2003. In addition, there is no evidence of the continued presence of rinderpest in the the Horn of Africa Region. Djibouti declared Provisional freedom from Rinderpest in October 2003 and is considered to be most likely free from the disease (OIE 2007; FAO, 1997). Ethiopia was recognized as Free from Rinderpest Infection in May 2008 (OIE, 2008). In 2007, Kenya was recognized as free from rinderpest on a zonal basis with zonal freedom from disease in most areas outside the Somali ecosystem while the Somali ecosystem and its neighbouring areas in Kenya were declared Provisionally Free from Rinderpest. Given the traditional nomadism and transhumance, if rinderpest still exists in the Somali ecosystem. it would have re-appeared in Somaliland given the situation that with cessation of vaccination since 1993, most of the cattle in the area were fully susceptible to rinderpest.. Despite inter border and intra-country uncontrolled movement of livestock between socioculturally related communities, the small size of the livestock population in Somaliland, which according to 1988 records was estimated at less than 6,000,000 would make it unlikely that rinderpest, if re-introduced, would be sustained with our present contingency response plans

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3.2 Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) In recent years, the geographical distribution of PPR has dramatically expanded to involve both Eastern Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Middle East apart from Asia and West and Central Africa. The disease has been confirmed in Somaliland and an overall baseline serological prevalence of 6.2% was established by testing 4,217 sera collected from all regions of Somaliland in 2001. The highest PPR antibody prevalences were recorded in sheep and goat flocks in Sool region while the flocks sampled in Sahil region were sero-negative at the that time. Clinical disease with laboratory confirmation of PPR outbreaks have since been recorded in Awdal region in 2006 and in Maroodijeh region in 2008. The overall antibody prevalences in sheep and goat flocks sampled during outbreak investigations in 2008 in Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil regions was 26%, 23% and 30% respectively. The surveillance results thus indicate that the disease is now endemic in all the regions of Somaliland. 3.3 Rift Valley Fever (RVF) Although there does not seem to exist any documented confirmed evidence of clinical RVF in Somaliland, results of baseline sero-surveillance conducted by the Somali PACE Project indicated baseline seroprevalences of 17% in camels, 0.3 % in goats and 2% in sheep flocks with an overall prevalence of 1.9%.in Somaliland. The highest antibody prevalences were recorded in the Sool and Sanaag regions indicating that these were the areas most at risk to RVF outbreaks if favourable climatic conditions prevailed. The disease, together with Brucellosis constitutes a big threat to export trade in livestock with the Gulf States. The disease is insect-borne and outbreaks are modulated by climatic factors such as un-usual rainfalls and flooding. Although the climatic conditions in Somaliland are not very suitable for outbreaks of RVF to occur commonly, the possibility of outbreaks resulting from unusual heavy rainfalls and flooding in specific potentially high risk localities (e.g Nugaal Valley) should be borne in mind.

3.4 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) There is no report of HPAI in Somaliland and the adjoining Puntland, Central and Southern Somalia. No sero-surveillance has been carried out so far. Nevertheless, HPAI is known to occur in Egypt and one outbreak was confirmed in Djibouti in 2006. Although the poultry population in Somaliland is considered low and village scavenging type local poultry are not considered significant, importation of poultry products consisting mainly of eggs and meat from the Middle East, Ethiopia and Yemen is known to occur. Some transcontinental migratory wild birds also visit Somaliland at some seasons of the year. The recent unpredictable global spread of HPAI makes it desirable for attention to be given to a potential risk of HPAI emergency in Somaliland, the risk albeit low at present.

3.5 Risk Mitigation of Animal Disease Emergency in Somaliland . Although specific risk mitigation for individual diseases may vary in details, broad measures adopted in Somaliland include development of a generic national emergencies 14

disease preparedness and contingency plan as well as for identified high-risk diseases like Rinderpest, PPR and RVF for a start. A national animal disease emergency task force charged with the responsibility of implementing national disease emergency plans has been put in place. Ban on importation of livestock and livestock products from countries where a relevant disease is known to exist supported by an effective animal disease surveillance, establishment of livestock inspection points between Somaliland and adjoining areas and targeted community based training of rural livestock farmers and pastoralists in various aspects of transboundary animal disease recognition and control including biosecurity procedures. Other mitigation measures include development of a community based, participatory rural livestock disease surveillance system and integrating it into the existing epidemio-surveillance network, training of veterinarians, auxiliaries, other categories of farmers on TAD prevention and control strategies and effective public enlightenment and awareness programmes on animal disease emergencies. Study tours for animal disease emergency preparedness is envisaged to see how the neighboring countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Botswana and Sudan are dealing with animal disease emergencies.

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4. EARLY WARNING CONTINGENCY PLANNING 4.1 Disease Surveillance Disease surveillance in Somaliland is both passive and active. Apart from reports to the animal health department by livestock owners, pastoralists and nomads traditionally help to spread news of strange diseases and unexplained mortalities to fellow farmers and livestock owners and eventually to the livestock officers as a way to avert their herds being infected or affected. Under normal conditions, the epidemiology unit of the livestock department carries out active surveillance of high priority. In the last four years surveillance efforts to ascertain the status of TAD like RVF,FMD,PPR,CBPP with support from Terra-Nuova, PACE, SAHSP and others International organizations in co-operation with the public and private professionals have been made. With the assistance of the FAO and implementation actions of the SAHSP Phase 11, efforts have been made to strengthen the capacity of Somali institutions for animal disease diagnosis and surveillance, reactivate the monthly animal disease reporting. And enhance the capacity of Somali communities and institutions for preparedness and response to transboundary animal diseases as well as relevant key livestock/veterinary policies designed to involve consultative and participatory processes with stakeholders. During active disease surveillance exercises samples collected for RVF and CBPP diagnosis were sent to Internationally accredited laboratories in Kenya and the results were negative. In addition, recently collected sheep and goat samples tested positive for PPR and PPR emergency interventions programmes funded and implemented by FAO, VETAID,OCHA and Terra Nuova/SAHSP II were organized in which the Ministry of Livestock and Private Veterinary Associations jointly participated and the disease was brought under control.

4.2 Emergency Disease Reporting and Response in Somaliland In Somaliland emergency reporting is carried out by the public animal health workers, the private professional associations, Community Animal Health Workers, Community elders and other stakeholders. It is envisaged that an individual seeing a disease outbreak reports to the village police station who by phone will pass on such information to the District Veterinary Officer (DVO). The DVO then reports to the Director of Animal Health for necessary advise and instructions. To ensure the effectiveness of the emergency disease reporting, the Ministry of Livestock has at the national level, linkages with: Livestock traders. International organizations Non-governmental organizations. Governmental Authorities such as NERAD, MoA, MoRD, MoF, MoI, MoH AND MoNP&C. Drug importers Chamber of commerce. 16

Within the Regions, the Regional Governors and Regional Disaster Management Committees play significant roles at this level. At the local level, the local authority is the focal point for epidemic diseases (disasters) management issues at the District level and provides the main link between the community, and the regional and national levels, where decisions, policies and funding emanate from. In principle, recognizing and working through community level structures, ensures the community's capacity and their own coping mechanisms are supported rather than undermined. The multi-dimensional problems associated with animal disease epidemics necessitate collaboration from a wide range of stakeholders within Somaliland. These include various stakeholders such as the relevant organizations and other focal points (line Ministries, NERAD, Livestock professional associations, and UN Agencies, NGOs, and community Animal Health Workers, MoFNP&C, MoA SAHSP, FAO AND UN-OCHA.) The basic information that would be required during a disease emergency includes: the disease or diseases suspected; the exact geographical location of the disease outbreak(s); the names and contacts of affected farms or villages; livestock species affected; approximate numbers of sick and dead animals; brief description of clinical signs and lesions observed; date(s) when the disease was first noticed at the initial outbreak site and any subsequent sites; details of any recent movements of susceptible animals to or from the outbreak farm or village; any other key epidemiological information, such as disease in wild or feral animals and abnormal insect activity; initial disease control actions taken.

4.3 Emergency Disease Information System A functioning animal disease information system does not truly exist in Somaliland and this is one important area that needs strengthening through support from the international donors. The development of a disease information system is an essential part of national animal disease emergency preparedness planning. It is desirable but by no means essential that this be computerized. Efforts are being made to reactivate monthly disease reporting to AU-IBAR using a standard format. Shapefiles are also available for the customization of TADInfo by FAO Rome.

4.4 Training of Veterinarians and other Animal Health Staff in Early Recognition of Emergency Animal Diseases and Collection and Dispatch of Diagnostic Specimens In Somaliland, many veterinarians or other animal health workers in either the public or private sector have not had first-hand experience with transboundary or other emergency animal diseases, such as PPR or RVF as these diseases may never have occurred in the country or may have been exotic for a considerable period. The Ministry of Livestock 17

therefore considers it desirable that training of veterinarians and animal health auxiliary staff including Community Animal Health Workers in transboundary animal diseases recognition, diagnosis and control is carried out. Some training has been carried out under the Somali PACE and SAHSP projects. Other areas of priority training include epidemiology, disease investigation procedures, reporting and risk analysis of disease occurrence and sustenance. Opportunities exist for training of laboratory staff in Nairobi, Kenya and in South Africa. There is also the possibility of training for laboratory staff at world or regional reference laboratories or through programmes organized by the Joint FAO/IAEA Division. Training programmes may also be arranged occasionally by other international organizations. National emergency disease training workshops should be organized as the mainstay of training and should be targeted at government field and laboratory veterinary officers, veterinary practitioners, industry veterinarians and public health and quarantine veterinarians including those stationed at abattoirs, markets, border posts and air-and seaports. Formal presentations and discussion sessions on the major emergency diseases should be supplemented as much as possible by audio-visual teaching aids, including colour slides and videos on the diseases. At the same time, instruction should be provided on disease reporting responsibilities and procedures, disease surveillance and other field epidemiology methods and immediate disease control actions at the outbreak site(s). Similar but simpler training workshops should be organized for auxiliary veterinary staff.

4.5 Laboratory Diagnostic Capability Three potential diagnostic laboratories for animal diseases exist in Somaliland, namely the Veterinary Laboratory in Hargeisa, the laboratory at the Sheik Technical Veterinary School (STVS) and the Berbera port quarantine laboratory. The Hargeisa laboratory with 8 members of staff can only carry out limited serological tests and haematology and parasitology. It would need a lot of equipment and staff training to be able to cope with Transboundary Animal Disease diagnosis. The Berbera Port laboratory is mainly involved with Brucellosis diagnosis for export trade mainly while the STVS laboratory is currently a training facility and has not started providing testing services to the public.

4.6 International Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres Somaliland through support from AU-IBAR, SERECU, FAO and Terra Nouva has links with Kabete and Muguga Veterinary laboratories in Kenya. In addition, there is a network of FAO and OIE reference laboratories and collaborating centres around the world which are available to provide advice and assistance to countries. They are designated for specific diseases or for broader subjects such as emergency preparedness for 18

transboundary animal diseases, vaccine quality assurance and biological standardization and veterinary epidemiology and economics.

4.7 International Disease Reporting OIE has obligatory disease reporting requirements for member countries which should be factored into emergency disease preparedness plans. The head of the epidemiology unit would be expected to prepare draft international disease reports, for OIE and elsewhere, to be approved by the Director of Animal Health. The OIE provides that countries should notify it within 24 hours of any of the following events: for OIE listed diseases: the first occurrence a listed disease and/or infection in a country, zone or a compartment. re-ocurrence of a listed disease and/or infection in a country,, a zone or a compartment after a report had declared the outbreak ended. First occurrence of a new strain of a pathogen of an OIE listed disease in a country, a zone or a compartment. A sudden and unexpected increase in the distribution, incidence, morbidity or mortality of a listed disease prevalent within a country, a zone or a compartment. An emerging disease with significant morbidity or mortality or zoonotic potential. Evidence of change in the epidemiology of a listed disease (including host range, pathogenicity, strain) in particular if there is a zoonotic impact.

Thereafter, weekly reports should be sent to OIE to provide further information on the evolution of the disease incidence which justified urgent notification. These reports should continue until it has been eradicated or the situation stabilized. A final report of the incident should also be submitted to OIE. Six monthly reports should be sent regarding the absence or presence and evolution of diseases listed by the OIE and information of epidemiological significance to other countries. Annual reports should be sent on any other information of significance to other countries. The Ministry of Livestock in Somaliland will compile disease reports to facilitate reporting in compliance with the obligations to OIE.

4.8 Regional Organizations There are several regional organizations that have been established, inter alia, to coordinate livestock disease control programmes at a regional level, foster international cooperation on animal health issues and facilitate safe international trade in livestock and livestock products. Somaliland at present has contacts with; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations African Union-Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) Muguga Laboratory 19

Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI).

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5. EARLY REACTION CONTINGENCY PLAN

5.1 Preventing the Entry of Exotic Diseases In Somaliland, there are holding grounds or quarantine stations in Dhamel and QoolAday for Hargeisa region, Aroori holding ground for Togdheer region, Wagade holding ground for Gabel region and Barbera quarantine for Sahel region. Animals for export are retained for 15-20 days during which the animals are examined and vaccinated if indicated before export mainly to the Middle East. Animals coming into Somaliland are similarly expected to be handled in similar manner in the quarantines stations or holding grounds.

5.2 General Principles of Emergency Livestock Disease Control in Somaliland In Somaliland, universally accepted general principles of epidemic disease control and eradication to be adopted include: 5.2.1 Denial of Access of the Disease Agent to Susceptible Animals This may be achieved by: Applying good hygiene and sanitary practices when handling livestock including disinfection of all personnel and equipment. This helps to prevent transfer of disease agents from one location to another. This should be accompanied by removing potentially contaminated materials from the environment, by disinfection, destruction and/or safe disposal including cleaning and disinfection of premises that have housed infected animals, destruction of contaminated feedstuffs and other materials and burial or burning of the carcasses of infected animals. 5.2.2 Avoiding Contact Between Infected and Susceptible Animals This may be achieved by quarantining of infected or potentially infected areas and restrictions on the movement of people, potentially contaminated animal products and other materials and imposing livestock movement controls. 5.2.3 Removing Infected and Potentially Infected Animals This is basically an eradication policy and can be achieved by slaughter of infected and exposed susceptible animals, safe disposal of carcasses combined with cleaning and disinfection of the infected premises. 5.2.4 Reducing the Number of Susceptible Animals In emergency disease control this is usually achieved by vaccination of susceptible animals. Vaccination may be done selectively (for example as ring vaccination around infected areas) or as blanket vaccination programmes in susceptible animal populations. More usually vaccination is used to reduce the level of infection in animal populations to an acceptably low level where other disease elimination policies are more feasible. Efforts will be made to avoid protracted mass vaccination which often leads to state of living with the disease. 21

5.2.5 Reducing Access of Vectors to Susceptible Animals For insect-borne diseases such as Rift Valley Fever, control may be achieved by reducing vector numbers in an area by treatment and/or elimination of potential breeding sites. Large-scale insecticide spraying is generally too costly, ineffective in the long term, and/or environmentally unacceptable. Other approaches might be to treat susceptible animals with long acting insecticides during critical periods or remove animals from high-activity insect vector areas either continuously or during times of the day or year when insect vectors are most active.

5.3 Strategies for Epidemic Livestock Disease Control and Eradication in Somaliland In the event of a transboundary animal disease emergency in Somaliland, the first response steps would involve containment and zoning followed by one of the control options described below. Containment which essentially is designed to stabilize the situation before eradication would involve immediate active disease surveillance procedures that include trace forwards and backwards. Zoning is essentially the proclamation of geographic areas in which specific disease control strategies are to be carried out. Zoning will take place in the form of concentric circles around known or suspected foci of infection, with the most intensive disease control activities in the inner zones. The actual size and shape of the zones will be determined by administrative boundaries or geographic barriers or be driven by epidemiological or resource imperatives. The nature of the disease control zones and the activities carried out in each zone will depend on the particular disease control/eradication strategy selected.

5.3.1 Control Options 5.3.1.1 Stamping out by Slaughter of Affected Herds or Flocks This is usually the most efficient and cost effective method for the rapid elimination of an introduced exotic or other emergency disease. In an eradication campaign, activities to be carried out in the infected zone are described below. An immediate quarantine of the infected premises would be imposed and all susceptible livestock species in the infected premises would be slaughtered, whether clinically ill or not. The carcasses would be disposed of by burying or burning. Fair compensation is expected to be paid as soon as possible, preferably at the time of slaughter. Depopulated premises, equipment, clothing and other protective outfits in dairy animal housing and feedlots would be cleaned with detergents/soaps and then decontaminated with suitable disinfecting agents depending on what disease agent is being dealt with as specified in individual disease specific contingency plans. Faeces and effluents would be similarly treated before burial or burning. Dangerous contact premises, which are premises in the area immediately surrounding the infected premises/herds/villages in which epidemiological investigations show a high likelihood that infection may have been introduced, although no overt disease has yet 22

been seen would be placed under strict quarantine and subjected to intense active surveillance. If any infected animal is detected, the area would be automatically considered to be infected premises. Animals in such holdings, premises, villages or settlements with susceptible species of livestock would be subjected to daily examination to detect clinical disease. This must continue for at least 21 days after the last clinical case has been slaughtered in the infected premises. This would be the preferred option in the case of Rinderpest.

5.3.1.2 Modified Stamping out with Ring Vaccination Depending on which transboundary animal disease is under consideration and existing circumstances, Somaliland may consider modified stamping out with ring vaccination to provide rapid control of an outbreak. This consists of the immediate imposition of strict movement controls, slaughter of clinically affected animals in the infected herd(s), premises, villages or settlements, combined with ring vaccination of in-contact as well as other susceptible livestock in the infected zone. This option is designed to reduce the number of infected animals shedding virus and the number of susceptible animals. It creates, in the area surrounding the infected herds, a ring of immune animals protected from the risk of developing disease after exposure from the known infected herds or from an undetected source. These aims can be achieved relatively quickly. 5.3.1.3 Vaccination Well-planned, comprehensive vaccination programmes, supplemented by other disease control measures, can go a long way towards eliminating many epidemic livestock diseases. This may be the strategy of choice in areas where large-scale eradication is unacceptable for one reason or another. Depending on which disease is being controlled and prevailing circumstances, Somaliland may adopt either ring or blanket vaccination. Ring vaccination is the rapid creation of an immune belt around an infected area and may be carried out to contain a rapidly spreading epidemic disease outbreak or in situations where the effectiveness of other methods to prevent the spread of the disease in and around infected zones, e.g. quarantine and livestock movement controls, cannot be guaranteed, or where these areas may be relatively inaccessible. Blanket vaccination involves the comprehensive vaccination of all susceptible species of animals over a larger area. It may be the preferred option when the disease outbreak has become well established and there are multiple foci of infection, or when other disease control methods are impractical for one reason or another. The vaccination area should cover known and suspected infected areas together with those areas considered to be at high risk for spread of the disease. Whichever vaccination programme would be selected, the purposes of the vaccination programme would be carefully defined and the programme targeted to meet the desired objectives. If the goal is eradication in Somaliland, vaccination would not be allowed to become merely a routine activity of government veterinary services. The vaccination would be carried out as comprehensively as possible, with the target close to 100 23

percent vaccination cover as practicable and different vaccination teams would be used for herds/flocks that are known or thought to be infected and those that are thought to be free. This is to minimize the possibility of spread of the disease. Attempts would be made to permanently identify vaccinated animals by such methods as ear-notching. In adopting the vaccination option, attention would be made to vaccine type, vaccine quality, vaccine storage and application, vaccine cover and degree and duration of vaccine protection. Different types of vaccine are available and their comparative advantages and disadvantages would be evaluated. Live attenuated vaccines generally provide a more durable immunity and require fewer doses and vaccines would be obtained from reputable sources that are credited with OIE accepted quality assurance procedures and codes of good manufacturing practice. The target will be to obtain at least 70% herd/flock immunity levels. It is envisaged that vaccines would be stored at the correct refrigeration temperatures at all times and used before their expiry dates. This means that cold chains will be maintained as necessary for vaccines up to the time of their injection. Too often, injection of vaccines in the field becomes a hit-or-miss affair because animals are inadequately restrained. Vaccination teams must be trained in proper techniques and equipped to restrain animals properly. Because vaccination campaigns may result in a mixture of immunized and unimmunized animals in the population, thus making clinical surveillance difficult and may complicate the interpretation of results of serological surveillance activities, it is important that a permanent identification system for vaccinated animals would be adopted. 5.3.2 Strategies for Dealing with Special Circumstances 5.3.2.1 Nomadism and Transhumance The presence of an epidemic disease in highly mobile cattle herds and sheep and goat flocks in Somaliland complicates disease eradication processes. Nomadic and transhumant pastoralists are among the most knowledgeable of livestock farmers and they are amenable to cooperation with veterinary authorities if their confidence has been gained and they are given the opportunity to participate actively in decision-making. Many are amenable to quarantine procedures as a part of their traditional disease management practices, providing they are carried out sympathetically with full consultation. This is important because changes in climate and weather, which have profound implications for the seasonal availability of feed and water, may affect their willingness to conform to quarantine regulations. Virtually all pastoralists are now familiar with the value of vaccines in controlling major epidemic diseases. Confidence building achieved largely through communication and improvements in the veterinarianfarmer interface must start well in advance of any disease emergency. 5.3.2.2 Insecure or Otherwise Inaccessible Areas Relative inaccessibility of areas as a result of natural causes (climate or topography) or insecurity resulting from civil unrest present a major challenge to the successful control and elimination of epidemic diseases. Approaches that use local community-based participation would be adopted under the supervision of the Ministry of Livestock. 24

6. CONTINGENCY PLANS The process of preparation of specified disease contingency plans has started with the plan for rinderpest. This will be followed by plans for PPR and RVF. There is also a plan to develop a time-bound strategy for the control of Brucellosis which has serious trade implications for Somaliland. Similarly, standard operating procedures for activities and programmes that may be common to several or all emergency disease campaigns as well as enterprise manuals that set out zoosanitary guidelines for enterprises that may be involved in an emergency animal disease outbreak are also planned. With regard to the specific disease contingency plans, the format and contents would be tailored to meet the requirements and circumstances of Somaliland. The following model format, which is based on FAO Manual for national disease contingency plans would serve as a guide.

6.1 Nature of the Disease aetiology susceptible domestic and wildlife animal species world distribution and present status of the disease in Somaliland. epidemiology including likely pathways for spread within Somaliland. clinical signs and pathology.

6.2 Risk Assessment (Including Potential Consequences) risk profile of the disease for Somaliland. likely methods of introduction and geographical areas at high risk potential consequences for food security and poverty alleviation, production losses, trade losses and public health .

6.3 Diagnosis and Surveillance early warning mechanisms for disease introductions/outbreaks disease reporting procedures in Somaliland field and laboratory diagnostic strategies linkages with international reference laboratories surveillance strategies during different phases of eradication

6.4 Principles of Control and Eradication methods to prevent spread of infection and to eliminate the pathogen factors that may affect control and eradication: agricultural production systems, epidemiological, social and economic 25

feasibility of control and eradication in Somaliland.

6.5 Policy and Rationale overall policy zoning policy disease control and eradication strategies and procedures in each zone alternate disease control and eradication strategies and the general circumstances in which these other options would be used. strategies for dealing with special circumstances: disease in wildlife or feral animals, areas with nomadism or transhumance and difficult or relatively inaccessible areas criteria for proof of freedom.

6.6 Action Plan Is a set of instructions covering various aspects of the controls to be implemented and actions to be taken during transboundary animal disease emergency in Somaliland from when the disease is first suspected up to its final control. It would identify lines of communication between livestock owners and field and government veterinary services Tries to ensure a short command chain with regard to reactions during the disease emergency.

6.7 Appendices criteria for defining infected areas and disease control zones summary of disease control actions in infected areas and other zones quarantine livestock movement controls stamping out, vaccination or other disease control procedures OIE International Animal Health Code for the disease.

6.8 Standard Operating Procedures These are detailed sets of instructions for key programmes and activities that tend to be generic rather than disease specific. They should be cross-referenced to the specific disease contingency plans. Standard operating procedures may be prepared for: organization and operation of the national disease control centre; organization and operation of local disease control centres; emergency disease reporting and information systems; 26

laboratory diagnosis and surveillance; field diagnosis and surveillance; zoning; quarantine and livestock movement controls; livestock destruction and disposal of carcasses; cleaning and disinfection; planning and performance of vaccination programmes; valuation and compensation; extension and public awareness campaigns.

6.9 Enterprise Manuals These are codes of zoosanitary practice and instructions for action in what could be deemed as risk enterprises in a disease emergency. They should cover acceptable and unacceptable zoosanitary practices when these enterprises find themselves located in infected areas, disease control zones, or disease-free areas. They may be prepared for: livestock markets abattoirs and knackeries feedlots egg hatcheries artificial breeding centres animal quarantine stations livestock traders and transporters zoos, wildlife parks and commercial aviaries veterinary practices

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7. SUPPORT PLANS 7.1 Financial plans The need for a livestock emergency fund has been brought to the attention of the Ministry of Livestock. The importance of Government commitment and provision of funds in the Somaliland budget has been emphasized. It is being proposed that part of the revenue from livestock export should be ploughed back as emergency livestock funds. Donor support would also be solicited as necessary. 7.2 Resource Plans A resource inventory, listing all the resources that would be needed to respond to a moderate sized outbreak of each of the high-priority emergency diseases is being done. 7.3 Legislation Somaliland enacted its Veterinary Code in 2008 which makes provisions for high priority animal diseases to be compulsorily notifiable. The code specifies the authority of the Minister, the director general and the Director of Livestock on issues relating to importation of livestock and livestock products, declaration of disease control zones in the event of a disease emergency, quarantine and application of zoo-sanitary measures for disease control. Provisions are made to allow the entry of officials (or other designated persons) on to a farm or other livestock enterprise for disease surveillance purposes and for the collection of diagnostic specimens and defines channels of communication with international organizations such as the FAO, WHO, OIE, WTO, AUIBAR etc.

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8. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION 8.1 FAO Reference Laboratories FAO Reference Laboratories provide consultations, assist in making diagnoses and develop diagnostic capability, maintain a reference collection of disease agents, produce and standardize reagents and assist in characterization of causative agents and in training activities.
Institute Disease Laboratory World Reference Laboratory Foot-and-mouth disease Institute for Animal Health (IAH) Pirbright Laboratory Ash Road Pirbright, Woking Surrey GU24 ONF UK Tel.: +44 1483 232 441 Fax: +44 1483 232 448 E-mail: Ann.boddy@bbsrc.ac.uk Other vesicular diseases Rinderpest Peste des petits ruminants Lumpy skin disease Sheep pox Goat pox World Reference Laboratory World Reference Laboratory World Reference Laboratory Reference Laboratory Reference Laboratory Reference Laboratory Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) Muguga Laboratory Rinderpest PO Box 32 Kikuyu Kenya Tel.: +254 20 2700640 email: vrckari@yahoo.com Institut sngalais de recherche agricole (ISRA) Laboratoire national de l'levage et de recherches vtrinaires (LNERV) BP 2057 De Hann Dakar Senegal Peste des petits ruminants Regional Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory

Rinderpest Rift Valley fever Peste des petits ruminants

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Tel.: +221 832 2762 Fax: +221 832 2118 E-mail: www.aupelf-uref.org/sngal_ct/rec/isra/isra.htm Pan-American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center (PAHO/PANAFTOSA) CP 589 20001-970 Rio de Janeiro Brazil Tel.: +55 21 671 3128 through 33 Fax: +55 21 671 2387 Foot-and-mouth disease Other vesicular diseases Foreign animal disease

Regional Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory Diagnostic Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory Foot-and-mouth disease Classical swine fever Regional Reference Laboratory

Plum Island Animal Disease Center Laboratory Chief USDA-APHIS, Box 848 Greenport New York USA 11944 Tel.: +1 516 323 2500 Fax: +1 516 323 2798 E-mail: lathomas@aphis.usda.gov www.aphis.usda.gov

Regional Viral Reference haemorrhagic Laboratory disease of rabbits Regional Malignant Reference catarrhal fever Laboratory Rinderpest Other vesicular diseases African horse sickness African swine fever Regional Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory Reference Laboratory Reference Laboratory

Centro de Investigacin en Sanidad Animal (CISA) Instituto Nacional de Investigacin y Tecnologa Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA) Valdeolmos 28130 Madrid Spain Tel.: +34 91 620 2300

Classical swine fever African horse sickness African swine fever

Regional Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory

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Fax: +34 91 620 2247 E-mail: Vizcaino@inia.es Center for Veterinary Biologics-Laboratory (CVBL) PO Box 844 Ames lowa 50100 USA Tel.: +1 515 239 8266 Fax: +1 515 239 8673 E-mail: lwilbur@aphis.usda.gov www.aphisweb.aphis.usda.gov/vs/cvb/lab/lab.htm Institut fr Virologie Tierztliche Hochschule Bnteweg 17 D-30599 Hannover Germany Tel.: +49 511 953 8840 Fax: +49 511 953 8898 E-mail: moennig@viro.tiho-hannover.de Centre de coopration internationale en recherche agronomique pour le dveloppement Dpartement d'levage et de mdecine vtrinaire CIRAD-EMVT Campus international de Baillarguet BP 5035 34032 Montpellier Cedex 1, France Tel.: +33 (0)4 6761 5800 Fax: +33 (0)4 6759 3795 E-mail:Francois.Thiaucourt@CIRAD.FR www.cirad.fr Laboratrio Nacional de Investigao Veterinria Estrada de Benfica 701 1500 Lisbon Portugal Tel.: +351 1 716 0448 Fax: +351 1 716 0039 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases Rampart Road Colorado State University Foothills Research Campus PO Box 2087 Classical swine fever Bluetongue Epizootic haemorrhagic disease

Regional Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory

Classical swine fever

Regional Reference Laboratory

World Contagious Reference bovine Laboratory pleuropneumonia World Contagious Reference caprine Laboratory pleuropneumonia Peste des petits ruminants Regional Reference Laboratory

Contagious Regional bovine Reference pleuropneumonia Laboratory

Rift Valley fever Arthropodtransmitted viral diseases

Reference Laboratory Reference Laboratory

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Fort Collins Colorado 80522 USA Tel.: +1 970 221 6400 Fax: +1 970 221 6476 www.cdc.gov/ncidod/ncid.htm Foot-and-mouth disease Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) Private Bag X5 Onderstepoort 0110 South Africa Tel.: +27 12 529 9111 Fax: +27 12 565 6573 E-mail: gavin@moon.ovi.ac.za www.ovi.ac.za Bluetongue Epizootic haemorrhagic disease African swine fever Arthropod transmitted viral diseases National Institute for Virology Special Pathogen Unit Private Bag X4 Sandringham 2131 South Africa Tel.: +27 11 321 4200 Fax: +27 11 882 0596 E-mail: bobs@niv.ac.za Central Veterinary Laboratory New Haw Addlestone Surrey KT15 3NB UK Tel.: +44 (0)1932 357 466 Fax: +44 (0)1932 357 856 E-mail: dalexander.vla@gtnet.gov.uk Arthropod transmitted viral diseases Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory Regional Reference Laboratory Reference Laboratory Reference Laboratory

Newcastle disease Avian influenza

Reference Laboratory Reference Laboratory

Transmissible Reference spongiform Laboratory encephalopathies Brucellosis Reference Laboratory

8.2 FAO Collaborating Centres

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FAO Collaborating Centres provide technical advice, expertise and consultations on designated subjects pertinent to FAO headquarters, field projects and member countries; and assist in the organization and implementation of training activities.
Institute Agriculture Research Council (ARC) Onderstepoort Complex Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) Private Bag X05 Onderstepoort 0110 South Africa Tel.: +27 12 529 9101 Fax: +27 12 565 4667 E-mail: gavin@moon.ovi.ac.za www.saturn.ac.za Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases Faculty of Veterinary Science Private Bag X04 Onderstepoort 0110 South Africa Tel.: +27 012 529 8268 Fax: +27 012 529 8312 E-mail: infek5@op1.up.ac.za National Veterinary Research Institute (VOM) Fed. Min. of Agriculture and Natural Resources Plateau State Nigeria Tel.: +234 73 80811/80 812 Fax: +234 73 460 006/460 370 Institut sngalais de recherche agricole (ISRA) Laboratoire national de l'levage et de recherchesvtrinaires (LNERV) BP 2057 De Hann Dakar Senegal Tel.: +221 832 5146/832 2762 Fax: +221 832 2118 E-mail: www.aupelf-uref.org/sngal_ct/rec/isra/isra.htm Laboratoire central vtrinaire BP 2295 Emergency preparedness West and for Central Africa transboundary animal diseases Emergency preparedness for transboundary animal diseases Emergency preparedness for transboundary animal diseases Geographical Theme coverage

Africa

Africa

Emergency preparedness West and for Central Africa transboundary animal diseases

Emergency West and preparedness Central Africa for

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Bamako Mali Tel.: +223 243 344 / 246 653 Fax: +223 249 809 Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) Muguga Laboratory PO Box 32 Kikuyu Kenya Tel.: +254 20 2700640 email: vrckari@rahoo.com Central Veterinary Laboratory 18 Borrowdale Rd PO Box CY551 Causeway Harare Zimbabwe Tel.: +263 4 705 885 Fax: +263 4 707 952 E-mail: CNCUBE@HEALTHNET.ZW Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory PO Box 11365 1558 Teheran Iran Tel.: +98 261 72005 through 9 Fax: +98 261 74658 E-mail: Modir@Iran.com Institut agronomique et vtrinaire Hassan II (IAV) Rabat-Instituts BP 6202 Rabat Morocco Tel.: +212 7 675 539 Fax: +212 7 776 796 E-mail: mime@mtds.com Kimron Veterinary Institute PO Box 12 Beit Dagan 50250 Israel Tel.: +972 3 968 1682 / 968 1711 Fax: +972 3 968 1753 / 968 1641 E-mail: mbana_vs@netvision.net.il Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) North Africa

transboundary animal diseases

Emergency preparedness Eastern Africa for transboundary animal diseases

Southern Africa

Emergency preparedness for transboundary animal diseases

Emergency preparedness Near East and for Middle Asia transboundary animal diseases

Emergency preparedness for transboundary animal diseases

Near East

Emergency preparedness for transboundary animal diseases Emergency

Asia and

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Pacific region Ryrie Street - PO Bag 24 Geelong, Victoria 3220 Australia Tel.: +61 52 275 000 Fax: +61 52 275 555 E-mail: harveyw@aahl.dah.csiro.au Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) Division of Veterinary Public Health Izatnagar 243122 (UP) India Tel.: 442 326 / 449 435 Yunnan Tropical and Subtropical Animal Virus Disease Laboratory Yunnan Institute of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Sciences Jindian Kunming 650224 China P.R. Tel.: +86 871 563 5721 Fax +86 871 563 5721 Veterinary Research Institute 59 Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah 34 100 Ipoh Malaysia Tel.: +60 5 545 7166 Fax: +60 5 546 3368 E-mail: ganch@jphvri.po.my Pan-American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center (PAHO/PANAFTOSA) CP 589 20001-970 Rio de Janeiro Brazil Tel.: +55 21 671 3128 through 33 Fax: +55 21 671 2387 Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias (CICV / INTA) CC 77, Morn 1708, Castelar Buenos Aires Argentina Tel.: +54 1 621 1447 / 621 1676 Fax: +54 1 661 4360 Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria CENSA South Asia

preparedness for transboundary animal diseases

Emergency preparedness for transboundary animal diseases

East Asia

Emergency preparedness for transboundary animal diseases

Southeast Asia

Emergency preparedness for transboundary animal diseases

Emergency Latin America preparedness and the for Caribbean transboundary animal diseases

Emergency preparedness Latin America for transboundary animal diseases Emergency preparedness for

Caribbean region

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AP 10 San Jos de la Lajas La Habana Cuba Institute for Animal Health (IAH) Pirbright Laboratory Ash Road Pirbright, Woking Surrey GU24 ONF UK Tel.: +44 1483 232 441 Fax: +44 1483 232 448 E-mail: Ann.boddy@bbsrc.ac.uk Centre de coopration internationale en recherche agronomique pour le dveloppement (CIRAD-EMVT) Dpartement d'levage et de mdecine vtrinaire Campus International de Baillarguet BP 5035 34032 Montpellier cedex 1 France Tel.: +33 4 6759 3724 Fax: +33 4 6759 3798 www.cirad.fr FAO/IAEA Central Laboratory for ELISA and Molecular Techniques in Animal Disease Diagnosis/Animal Production Unit/FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory/IAEA Laboratories Wagramer Strasse 5, PO Box 100 World A-1400 Vienna Austria Tel.: +43 1 2060 ext 28355 or 26053 Fax: +43 1 2060 ext 28222 E-mail: robinsonmk@rial1.iaea.or.at or M.H.Jeggo@iaea.org www.iaea.or.at./programmes/rifa/d3/index.html CNEVA Ploufragan - Laboratoire central de recherche avicole et porcine BP 53 Zoople 22440 Ploufragan France Tel.: +33 2 9676 0130 Fax: +33 2 9678 6861 E-mail: pvannier@ploufragan.cneva.fr Europe Africa Asia

transboundary animal diseases

Emergency preparedness for transboundary animal diseases

Africa

Emergency preparedness for transboundary animal diseases

Standardization, validation and quality assurance of ELISA and molecular techniques for animal disease diagnosis

World

Viral diseases of swine

36

Institute for Animal Science and Health, ID/IDLO PO Box 65 8200 AB Lelystad The Netherlands Tel.: +31 320 238 238 Fax: +31 320 238 050 E-mail: postkamer@id.dlo.nl CNEVA Sophia Antipolis - Laboratoire de pathologie des petits ruminants et des abeilles 105, route des Chappes BP 111 Europe and F-06902 Sophia Antipolis cedex Near East France Tel.: +33 4 9294 3700 Fax: +33 4 9294 3701 E-mail: vasa20@calva.net http://perso.wanadoo.fr/apiservices/cneva.htm Virology Department New Haw Addlestone Surrey KT15 3NB UK Tel.: +44 1932 341 111 / 334 115 Fax: +44 1932 347 046 Poultry Health and Production Danish Network for Poultry Production and Health in Developing Countries Department of Veterinary Microbiology Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University Bulowsvej 13 2000 Frederiksberg C Denmark Tel.: +45 35 282 775 Fax: +45 35 282 774 E-mail: ap@kvl.dk Viral diseases of swine

Europe

Diseases of small ruminants

World

Viral diseases of poultry

World

Diseases of poultry

37