ECO and West Eurasia Countries meet in Dushanbe for Back-to-Back FMD and PPR Roadmap Sessions

Countries from the West Eurasia (WEA) and Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) regions convened in Dushanbe for a joint event hosting the West Eurasia FMD Roadmap Meeting and the PPR Roadmap Meeting for ECO countries. The event enabled countries to maximise regional coordination, share experiences, and strengthen progress toward the global goals of FMD control and PPR eradication by 2030.

The meeting brought together Delegates and technical experts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan, alongside representatives from FAO, WOAH, EuFMD, international specialists, and partner organisations.

Focus on FMD control in West Eurasia

FMD remains endemic in parts of West Eurasia and continues to present a major obstacle to livestock production, rural livelihoods, and regional trade. Recent incursions in 2024–2025 and the circulation of multiple virus lineages highlight the disease’s ongoing transboundary risks.

Building on progress made since the launch of the West Eurasia Roadmap in 2008, participants reviewed:

recent FMDV circulation patterns, including SAT1 and SAT2 incursions;
risk-based control approaches and lessons learned from recent outbreaks;
socio-economic impacts, including trade limitations and production losses;
progress and gaps in PCP-FMD implementation, using updated tools such as the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT)-v2;
the role of laboratory and epidemiology networks in strengthening early detection and response;
priority needs for vaccination quality, coverage, and coordination.

Countries, with support from the Regional Advisory Group, updated the regional FMD Roadmap through 2027, identifying concrete milestones and technical priorities to advance along the PCP-FMD stages.

Strengthening progress toward PPR eradication in the ECO Region

PPR remains a growing concern across the region, affecting nearly 190 million sheep and goats in Central Asia alone. The recent expansion of the disease with outbreaks reported in Georgia and Bulgaria in 2024, and in Albania and Kosovo* in 2025, as well as cases in Romania and Greece has led to the suspension of the official PPR-free status in several countries.

During the PPR Roadmap sessions, countries:

reviewed regional epidemiological developments and previous recommendations;
discussed the implications of outbreaks on regional eradication efforts;
worked on PMAT self-assessments to support future applications for WOAH official recognition;
engaged in country-specific technical sessions to identify weaknesses, gaps, and priority actions;
updated the regional PPR Roadmap toward the 2030 eradication target;
and adopted the regional PPR strategy.

Key Outcomes

The consultation resulted in:

an updated regional epidemiological overview of FMD and PPR;
strengthened national capacities to use PCP-FMD and PMAT tools effectively;
revised FMD and PPR Regional Roadmaps, with clear timelines and responsibilities for 2026-2030;
identification of technical gaps and risks affecting control and eradication progress;
agreed mitigation measures, including improved information sharing and laboratory support;
defined regional priorities for cooperation and joint activities;
and preparation of official meeting recommendations and a comprehensive meeting report for participants.

This joint event reaffirmed the shared commitment of ECO and West Eurasia countries to strengthen veterinary services, accelerate regional cooperation, and advance towards the global goals of FMD control and PPR eradication by 2030. The organisers expressed appreciation to the Government of Tajikistan for hosting the meeting and to all partners for their continued technical and financial support. The outcomes of the meeting and the updated FMD and PPR Roadmaps will guide regional action in the coming years and serve as a foundation for enhanced coordination under the GF-TADs framework.