[cid:image001.gif@01CF42CE.49CE3260] [cid:image003.jpg@01CF42D8.2737A100]FAO and OIE to combat transboundary animal diseases in the Near East and North Africa The occurrence of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) has been on the rise in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) regions in the past years with devastating losses affecting livelihoods, food security and national economies. FMD and PPR are two of the most ubiquitous and contagious transboundary animal diseases (TADs) in NENA countries causing significant negative impact due to, amongst other reasons, reductions in animal productivity and costs associated with control and vaccination efforts...[Read more<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/news_180314.html>] ________________________________ [cid:image004.jpg@01CF42CE.49CE3260]FAO facilitates access to DNA sequencing in laboratories in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia Knowing the genetic information (also known as genome) of an organism helps scientists to better understand pathogens in order to control diseases. For example, in order to create a targeted vaccine for an animal disease such as Avian influenza or Foot-and-mouth disease, it is necessary to identify the lineage of the virus to reveal the type of vaccine needed...[Read more<http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/news_180314b.html>] ________________________________ Latest publication [cid:image006.jpg@01CF42D8.2737A100]FAO ECTAD China and CAHEC strengthen collaboration for 2014 ::: FAO Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) China and China Animal Health and Epidemiology Centre (CAHEC) held a meeting in Qindao on 17 February 2014. The main objectives of this meeting were to discuss the ongoing collaboration between ECTAD China and CAHEC in 2014 and to exchange opinions on several important projects that need joint efforts from both sides. Dr Ma Hongchao, Director General of CAHEC, Dr Huang Baoxu, Deputy Director General of CAHEC and other staff participated in the meeting and associated events during the day....[Read more<http://www.fao.org/docrep/019/aq716e/aq716e.pdf>] ________________________________ Upcoming events * The 4th FAO-APHCA/OIE/DLD Regional Workshop on Brucellosis Diagnosis and Control in Asia-Pacific Region: Proficiency Test and Ways Forward<http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/rap/home/meetings/list/detail/en/?meetings_id=997&year=2014> 18-20 March 2014 (Chiang Mai, Thailand) * ASFORCE Project Management Team Meeting (PMT)<http://www.prepared-fp7.eu/prepared-project-management-team> 20-21 March 2014 (London, United Kingdom) * Ad hoc External Consultation on Disease Surveillance in Live Bird Markets 24-26 March (Rome, Italy FAO-HQ) * First technical meeting of the RESEPI & RESOLAB networks of Central Africa<http://www.fao-ectad-bamako.org/fr/RESEPI-RESOLAB,514?lang=en> 24-28 March 2014 (N'djamena, Chad) * REMESA Joint Permanent Committee Meeting 27-28 March 2014 (La Valette, Malta) ________________________________ Interesting links * U.N. sends three experts to N. Korea over FMD: report<http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/yonhap-news-agency/140313/un-sends-three-experts-n-korea-over-fmd-report> News ::: globalpost * A decade of EU-funded Animal Health Research<http://ec.europa.eu/research/bioeconomy/pdf/186225_2011_2696_animal_health_research_en.pdf> Publication ::: European Commission. doi.10.2777/73975 EMPRES website ::: http://www.fao.org/AG/empres.html For comments or suggestions ::: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [cid:image007.gif@01CF42CE.49CE3260]<http://www.flickr.com/photos/empres-animal_health/sets/> [cid:image008.gif@01CF42CE.49CE3260] <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tx-uA-buM8&list=PLB58F4D829B7883FD> [cid:image009.gif@01CF42CE.49CE3260] <https://twitter.com/FAOAnimalHealth> ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the EMPRES-Livestock-L list, click the following link: &*TICKET_URL(EMPRES-Livestock-L,SIGNOFF);