On Friday, 20 March, FVE convened a joint webinar on Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in Europe, bringing together over 250 participants. With recent outbreaks raising concerns, the webinar offered a comprehensive and practical perspective on this priority disease with insights from leading experts, and presented a Europe-wide survey assessing the perceptions of veterinarians in Europe on the level of preparedness for sustained incursions of PPR in affected and non-affected European countries.
The recording and slides are now available!
Read the report here!
Opening the session, FVE Vice President Jane Clark provided an overview of previous webinars in the animal health series and context about the PPR spread to Europe, recalling the goal of eradication by 2030, led by FAO and WOAH. Europe’s role in supporting this effort was also highlighted, with emphasis placed on the importance of building and maintaining European PPR preparedness frameworks, as well as sharing experience, expertise, and surveillance.
Our expert speakers shared valuable insights:
- Olivier Kwiatek, virologist at EURL-PPR, CIRAD, provided an overview of the European PPR situation and diagnostic tools for practice, as well as practical implications for veterinarians and competent authorities. Slides HERE
- Sara Lysholm, PPR Status Officer in WOAH’s Status Department, explained the global situation of PPR and the role of WOAH and disease-free status, also tackling trade implications and international considerations. Slides HERE
- Gloria Hylviu, pharmacovigilance specialist at the Albanian National Authority for Veterinary and Plant Protection, shared vividly her field perspectives and experiences on PPR from the 2025 outbreak in Albania.
- Abel Bulamu Ekiri, veterinary epidemiologist based at the University of Surrey, presented the objectives of a soon-to-be released survey assessing the perceptions of veterinarians in Europe on the level of PPR preparedness, and how the results will be used. Slides HERE
Key messages:
- Olivier Kwiatek: With variable and non-specific clinical signs, PPR detection is difficult, leading to undetected circulation in South Eastern Europe with multiple cases of asymptomatic infections that complicate surveillance. New surveillance measures should be implemented across Europe to identify infected zones and control the disease and should include planned risk-based surveillance with systematic sampling for PCR and ELISA.
- Sara Lysholm: Official recognition of animal health status is key for international trade. Achieving disease-free status requires a strict process and applies to only a few diseases, including PPR since 2014. Suspension may result from an outbreak, failure to submit annual reconfirmation, or non-compliance with the terrestrial code (e.g., vaccination). International PPR standards are under discussion within WOAH, including the role of wildlife in its epidemiology and rules on vaccination, such as importing vaccinated animals into PPR-free zones.
- Gloria Hylviu: The outbreak in Albania revealed the main challenges posed by PPR, namely early detection and reporting, epidemiological control, farmer awareness and compliance, veterinary service capacity, and regional coordination. Biosecurity plays a crucial role in PPR control, as milk trucks were identified as indirect vectors of the disease.
- Abel Bulamu Ekiri: Understanding the level of awareness and perceptions of European veterinarians about PPR disease, as well as related control and preparedness measures, and the factors linked to its spread and persistence, may inform intervention strategies at both national and European levels.
FVE Vice President Jane Clark concluded by highlighting the strength of collaboration, “we are stronger when we work together”, as emphasised by Gloria Hylviu in her report on the Albanian outbreak.
Watch the recording HERE and download the presentations below.
