Criteria and indicators for foot and mouth disease control strategy decision-making in Asia-Oceania countries

The objective of this study is to identify the relative importance of criteria that could be used to evaluate control strategies for foot and mouth disease (FMD). A questionnaire was distributed to 21 Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs), or their representatives, at the 28th Conference of the Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), held on 18-22 November 2013 in Cebu, the Philippines. The CVOs/CVO representatives were present on behalf of 21 of the 31 OIE Member Countries in the region, and the questionnaire evaluated the importance of epidemiologic, economic and social- environmental criteria in the FMD control strategy decision-making process. Within the epidemiologic criterion, the size of an FMD outbreak area, with a median relative importance score of 90 (range 45-100), was viewed as the most important indicator, while the direct cost of FMD control measures was considered to be the most important economic indicator, with a median relative importance score of 80 (range 30-100). Finally, within the social-environmental criterion, the mental health of FMD-affected farmers was viewed as the most important indicator, with a median relative importance score of 70 (range 5-100). With respect to the FMD status of a country, the economic criterion was considered more important in 'FMD-free' countries (countries where an FMD outbreak had not been reported to the OIE in the ten years prior to the survey) than in 'FMD-experienced' countries (countries where an FMD outbreak had been reported to the OIE within the same period). The median relative importance scores of FMD-experienced countries and FMD-free countries were 80 (range 50-95) and 95 (range 40-100), respectively. Regarding the percentage contribution of the agriculture sector to a country's gross domestic product, a statistically significant difference was not found between countries and indicators. In the future, the current survey of the relative importance of criteria and indicators should facilitate a transparent discussion on the implications of FMD control strategies and rapid response during an FMD outbreak.