Vital elements for the successful control of foot-and-mouth disease by vaccination

The efficient control of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) by immunisation depends not only on the appropriate choice of vaccine in terms of innocuity, potency and strain composition, but also on a series of inter-related zoo-sanitary factors which are equally important. These include: national, centralised planning (including contingency planning) and control; vaccination and revaccination policy; the availability of epizootiological intelligence based on adequate diagnostic capability and ongoing immunological surveillance; the logistics of supply with its components of storage, transport and distribution; proper vaccine application; cleaning and disinfection of premises, vehicles and personnel; identification of individual animals; control of animal movement; recording; ongoing economic outcome and benefit analyses: training and retraining of professional and technical staff; public relations and especially the commitment of the agricultural community. These elements are reviewed in this paper.