Animal health - Risk analysis - Summaries

Quarantine of livestock in transit originating from countries with endemic

foot-and-mouth disease

Summary and recommendations

On the basis of an enquiry a risk analysis was carried out to assess the risk posed to

livestock indigenous to Switzerland by quarantined wild animals (red deer, antelope) in

transit from countries (The Philippines, Zaire) with endemic foot-and-mouth disease

(FMD). The assessment was confined to assessing the risk of transmission of the virus

which causes foot-and-mouth disease (FMDV). It is almost impossible to envisage the

economic damage and the further consequences of an outbreak of FMD in Switzerland.

It was proposed that the animals be transported to Switzerland by air and be

subsequently supervised in Zurich Zoo’s quarantine area (transit quarantine). After the

quarantine period expires they will be despatched to their destination (USA). According

to present knowledge antelopes and deer from Zaire and the Philippines may be

infected with FMD even if they do not display any clinical symptoms. If the country of

export does not take any special precautions animals infected with FMDV may be

imported into Switzerland. The possibility of inland livestock being infected by imported

viruses originating from animals on the journey from the airport at Kloten to the

quarantine pen at Zurich Zoo cannot be excluded. For this reason only animals which

are most probably not infected with FMDV should be permitted to enter Switzerland.

Animals’ temporary stays in Switzerland (transit quarantine) should be viewed as being

equivalent to definite importation. The following safety precautions must be implemented

to attain the degree of safety required:

a.  An appropriate export quarantine procedure should be implemented in the

animal’s land of origin subject to quality assurance in compliance with the OIE’s

internationally recognised standard (quarantine procedure, animal identification,

sampling, sample analysis, etc.). Samples could be analysed at the Institute of

Virology and Immunoprophylaxis (IVI).

b.  The probability of contracting an FMDV infection on stopover can be lowered by

using a direct flight from the animal’s country of origin to Switzerland.

Imported animals must be brought from the plane to the quarantine pen without delay to

reduce the risk of infection to Swiss livestock by viruses originating from these animals.

The potential for contaminating the environment and airborne transmission of FMDV can

be reduced by taking the following precautions thus reducing the risk of cross infection.

c.  Periods where animals are outside the quarantine zone should be kept as brief

as possible. Animals will be brought in transport crates from the plane to the

large animal station for inspection by the border veterinary and then be

immediately brought by truck by the shortest route to the quarantine station.