The 2021-2023 workplan of the EuFMD for Pillar II and Pilar III countries aims to reduce risk for Member Nations in the European neighborhood against the threat of Foot-and-mouth and similar transboundary animal diseases (‘FAST’) and enhancing progress in the roll out of the GF-TADs Global Strategy for FMD control.  

Specifically, the workplan for component 2.3 (Pillar II) aims to develop improved capacity in the network of FAST disease reference laboratories in the neighborhood to undertake the confirmatory and specialized tests required by the programme, while the workplan for component 3.2 (Pillar III) aims to provide online training in FMD laboratory surveillance for the global and regional epidemio-surveillance networks. 

The EuFMD will run a FMD Laboratory Investigation Training Course during the current biennium.   

Ninety-four countries will participate in this online training course. 

This online course will be open for four weeks on the EuFMD vLearning platform, during which participants must complete approximately 14 hours of self-directed study.   

 The learning objectives are:  

• Provide guidance to field staff in collection of quality diagnostic samples;  
• Describe characteristics of samples to submit to reference laboratories; 
• Select appropriate diagnostic tests to detect FMD virus and FMD virus-specific antibodies, and interpret the results of these tests; 
• Explain the principles of accurate virus detection test methods (virus isolation, ELISA and RT-PCR) and assays used for serology (VNT and ELISA); 
• Identify and select solution (or resolve) common problems with diagnostic tests;   
• Outline techniques for further characterization of FMD virus including genomic sequencing and vaccine matching tests; Explain the importance and basic principles of laboratory Quality Assurance;
• Explain the key principles of biosecurity and biosafety measures to be carried out in an FMD laboratory. 

  The topics covered include:  

• Interacting with field staff and guiding them in collection and submission of appropriate, quality diagnostic samples;
• Selecting appropriate diagnostic tests to detect FMD virus and FMD virus specific antibodies, and interpret the results of these tests;
• Describing the principles of accurate virus detection test methods and assays used for serology; 
• Outlining techniques for further characterization of FMD virus including genomic sequencing and vaccine matching tests; 
• Explaining the importance and basic principles of laboratory quality assurance;
• Explaining the key principles of biosecurity and biosafety measures to be carried out in an FMD laboratory. 

The target audience is those working in national or regional reference FMD laboratories and actively involved in carrying out or managing laboratory testing activities. Participants must be proficient to communicate in English or French. 

EuFMD technical coordinator: Kees van Maanen. 

EuFMD trainers: Kees van Maanen, David Paton, Donald King, Labib Bakkali Kassimi, Valerie Mioulet and David Lefebvre.