Australian Veterinarians Enhance FMD Preparedness through In-Depth Training in Kenya

District veterinarians in Australia have been intensifying their preparation for a potential foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak by participating in a hands-on training course in Kenya. The training, led by the European Commission, brought together about 15 veterinary professionals from across the world to learn from farmers and field experts on recognizing, diagnosing, and managing FMD. The Australian participants, including Mark Doyle and Lara Mitchell, gained invaluable insights from witnessing the disease firsthand and interacting with Kenyan farmers.

Key Takeaways:

• 16 District Veterinarians from Local Land Services in NSW have completed EuFMD training since 2014.
• The training course is held in an endemic country to provide veterinarians from FMD-free countries with a unique opportunity to apply on-farm biosecurity protocols and follow clinical and epidemiological procedures.
• Participants gain valuable insights from speaking directly with farmers in areas where there are active outbreaks and test their knowledge through practical biosecurity exercises, sampling, packaging, and lesion aging in a situational context.
• Dr. Mark Doyle described the training as invaluable, stating that witnessing the disease firsthand is more effective than preparation from pictures, videos, webinars, or textbooks.
• The training highlighted the importance of biosecurity and the efforts made by Australia to maintain its FMD-free status.
• Dr. Lara Mitchell emphasized the value of learning from other countries' approaches to agriculture and biosecurity, highlighting Australia's success in maintaining its FMD-free status.

Statistics:

• 16 District Veterinarians have completed EuFMD training since 2014.
• The training course is organized by the European Commission.
• The training was attended by 15 veterinary professionals from around the world, including Australia, Romania, Italy, Iceland, and the Netherlands.
• The training took place in an endemic country, providing a unique opportunity to apply on-farm biosecurity protocols and follow clinical and epidemiological procedures.

Sources:

• "District veterinarians join global training course on foot and mouth disease", The Land (no date)
• Mark Doyle, quoted in "District veterinarians join global training course on foot and mouth disease", The Land (no date)
• Lara Mitchell, quoted in "District veterinarians join global training course on foot and mouth disease", The Land (no date)