FAO and the National Food Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture with the EU support conducted trainings, working meetings, practical activities and presentations against brucellosis in five different regions of Georgia last month.

Brucellosis is a chronic infectious disease affecting many species of animals as well as human beings. The disease is spread through contact with infected animals or consumption of dairy products derived from them.  As a result, brucellosis causes major economic damage to agriculture as infected creatures must be slaughtered and the use of their dairy products for food purposes is prohibited.

Last month FAO experts shared information on the disease with veterinarians and farmers in Telavi, Rustavi, Akhaltsikhe, Gori and Batumi. A national brucellosis control program including testing and vaccination of livestock for 2016-2020 was publicized as well. Working meetings were held with the organizational support of Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA).

Additionally, practical fieldwork was conducted along with the presentations. Both private and state veterinarians had trainings in taking blood sample and livestock vaccination in Gori, Khashuri, Kaspi, and Kareli. This type of trainings is planned for every region of Georgia.

At the same time, cattle seromonitoring (analysis of blood samples) is underway in the region, where 60,000 head of cattle are to be tested. This year analysis of blood samples for 200,000 head of cattle is planned in the Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Shida Kartli regions.  Next year, healthy livestock will be vaccinated.

 The project under which all the above activities were conducted, “Support for Brucellosis prevention and control in Georgia,” has been operated by FAO and the National Food Agency since 2015.