The theme of the symposium was tracking the emergence and global spread of FMD. The significance of the disease has been exacerbated by the globalisation of trade, the rapid growth and intensification of livestock keeping (especially in countries where FMD is chronic), and the threat of bioterrorist attacks.
The first scientific talk was given by Nick Knowles of IAH, who compares the gene sequences of new isolates of the virus with his ever-expanding database of FMD sequences from around the globe. In this way he can track FMD viruses as they spread not only within countries but also across national boundaries, indeed continents.
"IAH Pirbright’s contribution to the control of FMD in some developing countries, where the disease is continually present, is part philanthropy, part enlightened self-interest on the part of the UK," said Dr David Paton, Head of the FMD Reference Laboratory. "Diminishing FMD overseas reduces the chances of it being imported into the UK and neighbouring European countries."
You can see a record of the activities of the FMD World Reference Laboratory, produced by the Institute for Animal Health, at http://www.wrlfmd.org.
More about FMD can be seen at the website of the FMD/Classical Swine Fever Coordination Action, hosted by the Institute for Animal Health; http://www.fmd-and-csf-action.org. This is an EU-funded project for better coordination and collaboration amongst national and international animal health organisations in respect of these two devastating diseases.
The work of the many Reference Laboratories in the Institute is described at http://www.iah.ac.uk/ref_labs/index.shtml. In addition to performing diagnostics test and research, staff of the Reference Laboratories in IAH also providing training for veterinarians from the UK and around the world: http://www.iah.ac.uk/events/index.shtml
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