Rinderpest is a highly fatal viral disease of domestic cattle, buffaloes and yaks. It also affects sheep, goats and some breeds of pigs and a large variety of wildlife species. Historically the virus was widely distributed throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and West Asia, but never became established in either the Americas or Australia/New Zealand. Rinderpest is an OIE listed disease. At the 59th General Session in 1991, the International Committee adopted the Recommended Standards for Epidemiological Surveillance Systems for Rinderpest proposed by the Foot and Mouth Disease and Other Epizootics Commission (now the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases). These standards, included in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, are the requirements that must be met to obtain official OIE recognition of Rinderpest free status (see OIE Disease Free Status and Disease Free Recognition procedures). Members wishing to apply for rinderpest free status, must also complete the Questionnaire for the recognition of country status for rinderpest.

Each May, during the General Session, the International Committee, composed of the Delegates of the OIE Members, adopts this list by Resolution. For the latest version of the list updates end of May 2008, click on 'Recognition of Members Free from Rinderpest '.

Members officially free from Rinderpest

All information on official disease status is derived from declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Members . The OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of Members disease status as a result of inaccurate information or changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not promptly reported to the Central Bureau subsequent to the time of declaration of freedom.

To be officially declared by the OIE free from rinderpest (see Appendix 3.8.2. of Guidelinesfor the surveillance of Rinderpest), Members should submit a request to the OIE in accordance with the Questionnaire for the recognition rinderpest free status to the OIE for evaluation by the Scientific Commission. If the Commission approves the Member's request, a draft recommandation is submitted to the International Committee for adoption, after allowing for a 60 day period for comments by other OIE Members.

For Rinderpest free countries that experience outbreaks, an expedited procedure for regaining its free status has been adopted by the International Committee. During the General Session in 2008, the International Committee adopted a resolution XXII describing the procedures for Members for the official recognition and maintenance of status of certain animal diseases. The Scientific Commission has the authority to reattribute to a Member previously recognised as Rinderpest free, and without further consultation with OIE Members and the International Committee, its free status for its territory if the Member provides evidence in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code.

RESOLUTION No. XIX

Recognition of the Rinderpest Status of Members

 

CONSIDERING THAT

1. By means of subsequent Resolutions* since the 63rd General Session of the OIE International Committee has established a procedure for annually updating a list of Member countries and zones, recognised as free from rinderpest according to the provisions of theTerrestrial Code,

2. During the 69th General Session, the International Committee adopted Resolution No. XVI which stated that Delegates of Members where entire countries or zones are recognised as rinderpest free, annually reconfirm by letter during the month of November that their rinderpest status and the criteria by which the status was recognized have remained unchanged,

3. During the 70th General Session, the International Committee adopted Resolution No. XVIII asking fees to be paid by Members applying for evaluation for freedom from rinderpest and that these fees would be recovered whenever possible from sources other than the applicant countries,

4. Information published by the OIE is derived from declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Members. The OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of country or zonal disease free status based on inaccurate information, changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not promptly reported to the Central Bureau subsequent to the time of declaration of freedom from disease or infection.

5.During the 75th General Session the International Committee adopted the proposed update in the “OIE rinderpest pathway” of the Terrestrial Code. In view of the progress in global rinderpest eradication, the provisions of Chapter 2.2.12. of the Terrestrial Code 2007 were restricted the sole recognition of rinderpest free status representing a country-wide infection free status. Therefore new applications of Members for zones free from rinderpest or rinderpest disease free status are no longer applicable.

THE COMMITTEE

RESOLVES THAT

1. The Director General publish the following list of Members recognised as free from rinderpest, according to the provisions of Chapter 2.2.12. of the Terrestrial Code:

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Argentina Australia Austria Barbados Belarus Belgium Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Canada Chile China Chinese Taipei Colombia Congo Congo (Dem. Rep. of the) Côte d'Ivoire Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus

Czech Rep. Denmark Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Finland Former Yug. Rep. of Macedonia France Gabon Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Guinea Guinea Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Ireland Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan

Korea (Rep. of) Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Moldavia Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Norway Pakistan Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal

Romania Rwanda Senegal Serbia Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Spain Sudan Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Kingdom United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Zambia Zimbabwe

2. The Director General publish until May 2009 the following list of Members being free from rinderpest disease according to the provisions of Chapter 2.2.12. of the Terrestrial Code 2006:

Cameroon Chad

Niger

3. The Director General publish until May 2009 the following Member having a zone designated by the Delegate as free from rinderpest disease according to the provisions of Chapter 2.2.12. of the Terrestrial Code 2006:

Kenya: zone designated by the Delegate of Kenya in a document addressed to the Director General in August 2005.

AND

4. The Delegates of these Members will immediately notify the Central Bureau if rinderpest occurs in their countries or zones within their territories.

______________

(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 27 May 2008)

 

* 63rd General Session (GS) Resolution No (Res) XIV; 67th GS Res XVI and 68th GS Res XIII, and 70th GS Res XVI

 

Self-declaration of Provisional Freedom from Rinderpest (according to Terrestrial Code Edition 2006)

Article 2.2.12. of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code Edition 2006 , stated that a Member to declare its country or territory provisionally free from rinderpest disease, must fulfil certain conditions, which are:

i) No clinical disease should have been detected for at least 2 years;

ii) There is an effective veterinary service which is able to monitor the animal health situation in the country;

iii) The service investigates all clinical evidence suggestive of rinderpest;

iv) There is an effective reporting system, both from the field to the central veterinary authority, and by that body to the OIE;

v) There is a reliable system for preventing the introduction of infection which is carried out by proper border control, quarantines, etc.;

vi) All vaccinations against rinderpest will cease by the date of the declaration. The OIE and neighbouring countries must be notified of this decision (in writing), giving the date from which vaccination ceased.

Table 1 lists the Member countries that were self-declared provisionally free from rinderpest disease before May 2007. The information of Members provisionally free from rinderpest disease will remain published by the OIE until May 2009 after which the list will be deleted.

 

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