Full-scale launch of the Peste des Petits Ruminants Eradication Campaign, Ministry of Agriculture Deploys Prevention and Control

In order to effectively carry out the eradication of peste des petits ruminants and effectively safeguard the stable and healthy development of the sheep industry, in accordance with the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law and other laws and regulations and the requirements of the National Medium- and Long-Term Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan (2012-2020), the Ministry of Agriculture recently issued the National Peste des Petits Ruminants Eradication Plan (2016-2020) (hereinafter referred to as the Plan), fully launching the national peste des petits ruminants eradication campaign, striving to eradicate peste des petits ruminants nationwide by 2020.

Peste des petits ruminants is a highly contagious animal infectious disease of sheep caused by the peste des petits ruminants virus. The disease is an OIE notifiable animal disease and is also an animal disease targeted for global eradication; China has classified it as a Class One animal disease. The National Medium- and Long-Term Plan explicitly lists it among the 13 priority foreign animal diseases for prevention. The Plan clearly states that animal husbandry and veterinary departments in all localities must, under the unified leadership of local Party committees and governments, adhere to the principle of prevention first, adhere to territorial management and responsibility at each level, accelerate the implementation of a regionalized and phased prevention and control strategy, and take regionalized management as the starting point to comprehensively advance the eradication of peste des petits ruminants. First, strengthen routine epidemic prevention management. Guide sheep farms (households), live sheep trading markets and slaughterhouses to establish and improve epidemic prevention systems, regularly carry out cleaning and disinfection work, and raise the level of biosafety. Second, do a good job in immunization and vaccination. Guide sheep farms (households) in immunization areas to carry out sheep flock immunization work, promptly provide supplementary vaccination for newborn lambs and newly restocked sheep, and keep immunization records; the qualified rate of immune antibodies should reach 70% or above. Third, strengthen monitoring and early warning. In accordance with the national animal disease monitoring and epidemiological investigation plan, effectively carry out peste des petits ruminants monitoring and epidemiological investigation work. Fourth, strengthen supervision of live sheep transport. Intensify supervision of live sheep transport, and strictly prohibit the transport of live sheep from high-risk areas to low-risk areas. Fifth, strengthen emergency management. In strict accordance with the requirements of the peste des petits ruminants prevention and control emergency plan and prevention and control technical specifications, improve emergency mechanisms and make all emergency preparations. Sixth, strengthen prevention of overseas epidemics. Strengthen prevention and control in border areas, establish border immunization isolation belts, and effectively implement border patrols, disinfection and other prevention and control measures. Strengthen multi-department joint prevention and control, form a synergy for prevention and control, and effectively guard against the risk of cross-border spread of the epidemic. Seventh, strengthen publicity and training. Strengthen training for grassroots animal epidemic prevention personnel and enhance the ability to diagnose, prevent and control peste des petits ruminants. Intensify publicity efforts, widely disseminate scientific knowledge on peste des petits ruminants prevention and control, and enhance the epidemic prevention awareness of relevant practitioners. Eighth, strengthen international exchange and cooperation. Further promote pragmatic cooperation with FAO, OIE and other relevant international organizations, strengthen bilateral and multilateral joint prevention and control, strengthen information communication and exchange, and jointly advance the strategic goal of global eradication of peste des petits ruminants. Ninth, effectively carry out assessment and acceptance. In accordance with the Measures for the Administration of Assessment of Animal Disease-Free Zones and the standards for peste des petits ruminants-free zones, refine and substantiate implementation plans and accelerate the development of peste des petits ruminants-free zones. According to work progress, carry out assessment and acceptance work in stages and by region.