Support to the diagnostic and surveillance systems
The PPR GEP will support efforts to better understand the presence (or possibly the absence) of PPR in a country or region, its distribution among the different farming systems and, ultimately, its impact on these systems. This requires an assessment of the epidemiological situation and the establishment of a functional surveillance system. The programme will support regional laboratory and epidemiology networks in better coordination and exchange of information.
SUBCOMPONENT 2.1. Epidemiological assessment
At the national level, PPR status will be updated annually using the PMAT. Countries will formulate a national assessment plan and undertake field assessments to identify risk hotspots and transmission pathways, through risk analysis principles applied to epidemiological systems and value chains. Regional assessments will also be carried out to maintain a country’s PPR free status, where applicable.
SUBCOMPONENT 2.2. Strengthening surveillance systems and laboratory capacities
At the outset of the programme, the purpose of surveillance will be to inform strategy development and enable eradication. The objective is to identify populations that are critical in maintaining the virus, and then develop appropriate vaccination strategies. The programme will provide a series of training courses in outbreak investigations, participatory epidemiology and participatory disease surveillance – including syndromic approaches, epidemiology and risk assessment. It will also support the development of the FAO-led Field Epidemiology Training Programme for Veterinarians (FETPVs) to tackle PPR. Capacities for laboratory diagnostics and testing, differential diagnosis of PPR and characterization of field virus isolates will be strengthened. At regional level, at least nine Regional Leading Laboratories (RLL) will be identified and assisted in developing assured expertise, so as to quality assure diagnostic tests and support national laboratories. International/regional proficiency tests will be conducted.
SUBCOMPONENT 2.3. Regional epidemiology and laboratory networks
The programme will establish or reinforce regional laboratory and epidemiology networks and facilitate the designation of one RLL and one Regional Leading Epidemiology Centre (RLEC) in each of the nine regions/subregions. Exchanges between national laboratory and epidemiology staff in each region will be facilitated by regional network meetings.