Third OIE International Symposium on Bluetongue

Taormina, Sicily – The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) held its Third International Symposium on Bluetongue from 26- 29 October 2003. It was co-organized with the support of the Ministry of Health of Italy, the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise "G.Caporale", the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia and was hosted in Taormina, Sicily, Over 300 participants among scientists, researchers and regulators of the highest international level attended the meeting during three days.

Representatives from the 5 continents were also present. They illustrated the epidemiological situation in their respective regions and the measures taken to fight the disease.

Bluetongue being an endemic disease in a large part of the world, the participants exchanged all the actual and relevant information about it, in particular the most recent knowledge about the vectors, the viral strains, the vaccines and the control methods of the disease.

The scientific conclusions of the Symposium will certainly allow the OIE to update the Bluetongue chapter of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the OIE in order to achieve safe trade of animals and animal products while avoiding unjustified barriers.

The meeting has been a great success and is part of the OIE strategy for disseminating and updating most recent scientific knowledge of animal diseases with the collaboration of the most well known experts of the world.