MINUTES OF A NATIONAL PPR COORDINATION MEETING ON 18TH OCTOBER, 2017

VENUE: DAIRY TRAINING INSTITUTE, NAIVASHA

Participants group photo

PRESENT

1.

2. Dr. Harry Oyas - National PPR coordinator DVS

3. Dr. Jackline Kasiti - DVS representative

4. Dr. Jane Wachira - Chief Executive Officer, KEVEVAPI

5. Dr. Monicah Maichomo - Director, Veterinary Research Institute

6. Dr. Reuben Soi - Senior Scientist, KALRO– taking minutes

7. Dr. John Mugambi - AD, Animal Health Research, KALRO

8. Dr. Henry Wamwayi - AU-IBAR

9. Dr. Sam Okuthe - FAO-ECTAD

10. Dr. Edward Okoth - ILRI

11. Dr. Francis Gakuya - KWS

12. Prof George Gitao - UON

13. Dr. Migwi – represented Kajiado CDVS

14. Dr. Eunice Ndungu – KALRO VRI

15. Dr. Alexander Kipronoh – KALRO VRI– taking minutes

16. Ms. Vivian Tanui – KALRO VRI

17. Dr. Simon Kihu – VETWORKS EAST AFRICA

APOLOGIES

1. Mwangi Njuru – EU

2. Dr. George Keya – ASAL-APRP Coordinator

AGENDA

1. Opening Remarks

2. Objectives of the Meeting

3. Pan African Strategy and Programme for the Control and Eradication of PPR Review of current PPR situation in Kenya

4. National PPR control and eradication strategy

5. Role of AU-IBAR in PPR control and Eradication

6. Development of Thermostable Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) Vaccine by KALRO VSRI

7. Role of Universities in PPR Research

8. Role of ILRI in PPR Research

9. Role of KWS in PPR control and eradication

10. Role of KeVeVaPI in Vaccine production

11. PPR activities by FAO

12. Report on other PPR activities

13. Questions, answers and comments during plenary sessions

14. Recommendations and Way Forward

15. Vote of thanks and departure

MIN 1/18/10/2017: Opening remarks (Dr. Monicah Maichomo and Dr. John Mugambi)

Dr. Monicah Maichomo opened the meeting with a word of prayer at 8.20 A.M. and welcomed the participants to the meeting. In his opening remarks, Dr. John Mugambi informed the participants that the meeting was facilitated by ASAL-APRP in KALRO which is supported by the European Union. He pointed out that KALRO and KEVEVAPI have been working on thermo-stabilization of PPR vaccine and that a meeting was called to review progress on 21st July 2017 at Pride Inn Hotel, Westlands. During the meeting, progress was observed to be moderate and acceptable given the prevailing circumstances (challenges with personnel, resources, etc). Some of the key points from the meeting were:

· The economic importance of PPR was obvious as it affected 23 counties. Some projects that are supported by the EU purchase vaccines for Kenya and the continent hence the interest in thermo-stable vaccine to improve PPR management especially in ASALs.

· On vaccine development by international organizations, issues of quality control and responsibility in the event of poor quality should be taken seriously.

· The 11th EDF has been confirmed and commercialization will be top on the agenda. The PPR vaccine for business should be the focus to ensure the vaccine get to the shelves and thereafter to the end-users. It was noted that this will require stakeholder engagement for effective commercialization.

· On advisory services, local advisors who understand the issues better should be used even as stakeholders address regional (IGAD, AU-IBAR and national strategies of PPR control.

· Advocated local vaccine production to control introduction of new PPR virulent strains

In his conclusion remarks, he informed the participants that the meeting was a follow up from the Pride Inn Hotel meeting that proposed a national PPR coordination meeting on observation that there were several players/activities (FAO, EU, AU-IBAR, ILRI, national bodies – DVS, KALRO, KEVEVAPI, KWS, Academia etc) in the country but lacked harmonization and a platform for consultations hence, this would provide a platform for synergy and quality control of PPR vaccines to be used in the national/regional/global PPR eradication strategy.

MIN 2/18/2017: Objectives of the Meeting (Dr. Monicah Maichomo)

Dr Monicah Maichomo, briefed the participants on the objectives of the meeting which in part were to;

1. Understanding the various PPR activities in Kenya

2. Develop a platform for harmonizing PPR activities and take advantage of synergy for greater impact

3. Discuss way forward on the proposed platform

4. Develop a strategy that can focus PPR activities towards eradication.

MIN 3/18/10/2017: Pan African Strategy and Programme for the Control and Eradication of PPR. (Dr. Henry Wamwayi)

The presentation indicated the importance of small ruminants to the economies in Africa with statistics showing that small ruminant population in Africa is currently about 670 million (31.7% of the global population) and represent majority of farm animals making up 67.53% of all ruminants. They contribute over 90% of the annual value of livestock exports in the Greater Horn of Africa. The presentation highlighted the importance of small ruminants as a source of livelihoods as listed;

1. An important component in the nutrition and food security, income generation and livelihoods of pastoral communities and small holder farmers

2. Alleviation of hunger and poverty especially in the rural areas.

3. Easier to slaughter to provide a quick source of nutritious meat for the family and visitors than a cow.

4. Mainly kept by women and children; when women sell goats/sheep, the income generated helps the whole family in meeting health and school fees among other essential needs.

5. Reproduce rapidly and are easier to sell to meet immediate household needs or to exchange for other staple foods.

6. Important source of manure for soil fertility in agro- pastoral systems

7. Well adapted to pastoralist and agro-pastoralist ecological systems common in all the regions of Africa.

8. Important means for rebuilding herds after environmental and political shocks, thus important for building resilience

9. Provide employment and incomes for various value chain actors: traders, transporters, slaughter-house operators, butchers, supermarkets and other meat retailers

10. Consumers too stand to gain if they are able to sustainably access high quality meat and other small ruminant products.

According the presentation, PPR was noted as a devastating and rapidly spreading viral disease that kills up to 90% of infected sheep and goats. It is currently present in 34 (62%) AU Member States and one of the main constraints to small ruminant production, trade and marketing in Africa. PPR undermines all the benefits of rearing small ruminants and women and youth, are the most affected by PPR as sheep and goats are an important source of their livelihoods. Devastating losses of livestock often cause pastoralists and farmers to migrate away from their lands and cultures in search of alternative livelihoods. In summary, PPR causes annual global losses estimated at US$1.4 to US$2.1 billion and about 33% of the financial burden of PPR is carried by Africa. Efforts to control and eradicate PPR have been put in place by LiDeSA. Its objectives include;

1. To attract public and private investments along the different value chains

2. To enhance animal health and increase the production, productivity and resilience of livestock production systems

3. To enhance innovation, generation and utilization of technologies, capacities and entrepreneurship skills of livestock values chain actors.

4. To enhance access to markets, services and value addition.

Pan-African strategy and programme for control and eradication was initiated immediately following the eradication of rinderpest. Lessons learnt in rinderpest eradication provided guidance for the development of a PPR strategy and programme. There was also political support by the 8th and 9th conferences of ministers responsible for animal resources in Africa (May 2010 and April 2013). The 9th conference recommended to mobilize the necessary resources for implementation of the strategy under the coordination of AU-IBAR with the support of AU-PANVAC, OIE and FAO. This resulted in the development of initial Pan African control program for PPR and other small ruminant diseases (PCP-PPR) in 2013. The Global PPR strategy also followed the eradication of rinderpest and build on lessons of rinderpest eradication. The strategy was developed by FAO-OIE-GF-TADs working group and was Launched in Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire at the FAO and OIE International Conference for the Control and Eradication of PPR (31st March to 2nd April 2015).

AU-IBAR reviewed and aligned the pan-African Strategy to the global PPR control and eradication strategy by September 2015. The revised strategy aims to achieve the eradication of PPR by 2030, improve veterinary services and control other priority SRDs. The aligned strategy was shared with CVOs and partners in May 2015. AU-IBAR provided financial and technical support to RECS for development of regional PPR strategies and in collaboration with FAO & OIE, it convened PPR regional roadmap meetings towards a harmonized and coordinated implementation of Global PPR eradication.

The PPR strategic approach is not a stand-alone activity. PPR Eradication will be implemented together with; the control of other small ruminant diseases, strengthening of veterinary services, conflict reduction/management, empowerment of women and youth and contribution to economic development. The Overall objective of the revised Pan African PPR strategy is to contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and resilience of livestock-dependent communities in Africa and the economic growth of the affected countries with a specific objective to improve the health and thereby the productivity of small ruminants in Africa. The expected outputs are; PPR eradicated from Africa by 2030, other SRDs controlled and veterinary services strengthened. The PPR strategic control and eradication framework has four stages;

1. Epidemiologic and socio-economic assessment for countries of unknown PPR status.

2. Control

3. Eradication

4. Verification of absence of PPR leading to OIE accreditation of PPR free status.

To ensure success, there is need for partnerships with global commitment for financial and technical collaboration between AU-IBAR, AU-PANVAC, RECs, MS, NGOS, FAO and OIE. Political support is also important as demonstrated by commitment from the Ministers for animal resources in Africa, to support interventions for the Control and eradication of PPR. A 5 year programme phasing each with clear objectives and outcomes is important during implementation.

A revised Pan African programme for the control and eradication of PPR for the first five years (2017 – 2021) has been developed. The programme aims to initiate the coordinated process for the eradication of peste des petits ruminants from Africa in order to contribute towards achieving the final global eradication of the disease by 2030. It is aligned to the Global PPR Eradication Programme developed by the global PPR Secretariat in 2016. The overall objective of this pan-African PPR control programme is to contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and resilience of livestock-dependent communities in Africa and the economic growth of the affected countries thereby contributing to the reduction of instability, conflicts and irregular migration from Africa.

Specific objectives are;

· to reduce the prevalence of PPR in endemic countries and maintain the absence of PPR in non-infected countries

· to reinforce the Critical Competencies of Veterinary Services to enhance the control and eradication of PPR and other priority small ruminant diseases

· to mitigate NR based and other conflicts in key small ruminants production areas

· to promote investments in livestock based business models to enhance access to markets.

Some of the ongoing initiatives include support to RECs and member states. AU-IBAR and AU-PANVAC in collaboration with FAO and OIE provided support to IGAD and SADC to develop regional PPR strategies. AU-IBAR is also supporting the development of national PPR strategies and Action plans (2017 – 2021) by 27 MS with good progress made. They are involved in providing technical advice and back-stopping to IGAD/ICPALD for development of PPR strategies in IGAD MS and co-hosting and participating in regional PPR roadmap meetings with RECs, FAO and OIE, consolidating political support through the AU organs and resource Mobilization for implementation of the programme.

In conclusion, LiDeSA provides the roadmap to transform the livestock sector to catalyze the livestock revolution in Africa. The control and eradication of PPR and other small ruminant diseases will contribute to the realization of the LiDeSA objectives. The pan-African PPR Strategy and programme are aligned to the Global PPR strategy and programme respectively. PPR burden in Africa calls for concerted Financial and Political support to ensure the Pan-African and Global eradication of the disease.

MIN. 4/18/10/2017: National PPR control and eradication strategy (Dr. Harry Oyas)

In Kenya, PPR was first detected in 2006 in north-western Turkana District in Oropoi and Lokichoggio divisions that border South Sudan and Uganda. It was a ‘new’ disease which the community called “Lomoo” in sheep and goats. Since then PPR has now endemic in the country with regular outbreaks of clinical disease. The incidences have however gone down with time. According to the FAO, the 2006–2008 outbreaks in Kenya were responsible for 1.2 million deaths of small ruminants with an estimated value of USD 23.6 million and a drop in milk production of 2.1 million litres. Although camels, cattle and donkeys can be serologically positive for PPR, clinical disease is only seen in sheep and goats.

Some of the risk factors leading to maintenance of PPR in Kenya include;

· movement of animals from one area to another in search of pastures and for trade;

· movement of animals from infected areas to clean areas;

· movement of animals from neighbouring countries through porous national borders

· presence of vulnerable unvaccinated stock

The risk points are mainly common grazing grounds, watering points, along livestock marketing routes, primary markets where animals are brought for sale and sometimes returned to the original flocks when not sold, the secondary markets where they eventually congregate. At these markets, the animals may be bought and introduced into new flocks. Insecure/conflict areas are also a risk.

The overall objective of the PPR strategy is to contribute to food security, nutrition, poverty alleviation and resilience of livestock-dependent communities. The strategy is applied by zoning the country into low, medium and high risk areas and specific activities unique to the zones carried out. In general, combinations of these activities are carried out and the approaches to be applied include;

· identification of hotspots in high risk counties using passive and participatory disease surveillance methods

· targeted mass vaccinations to be conducted in hotspots

· Use of rapid field tests to identify positives followed by sampling for laboratory confirmation

· Outbreak control in low risk areas- application of stringent movement controls and ring vaccinations

· Slaughter and compensation to stamp out outbreaks in low risk/free areas

· Cross-border collaboration (networks) coupled with harmonization of activities at ecosystem level (5 ecosystems identified).

The eradication of PPR in Kenya is envisaged to be achieved by 2027 through progressive reduction of the incidence and spread of PPR and reinforcing veterinary services. Animal health at national level will be enhanced by reducing the impact of other priority small ruminant diseases (SRDs). The five diseases identified are brucellosis, CCPP, Sheep and Goat pox, enterotoxaemia and Rift Valley Fever. The eradication plan has five stages:

0: no data

1: assessment

2: control strategy

3: eradication

4: post eradication

The first four stages combine decreasing levels of risk and increasing levels of prevention and control. Kenya is at stage 1. If the control strategy (stage 2) is very effective a country may be allowed to jump stage 3. Resources are required to finance the strategy. The estimated cost is Kshs. 6.2 billion. Stakeholders join hands to provide the financial, physical and human resources. These stakeholders include:

· National and County Governments

· Organizations (local and international)

· On-going projects supporting the control of small ruminant diseases- RPLRP, SHARE etc

· Private sector through public-private sector partnerships

· Donors and/or technical partners

In each of the four stages the strategy focuses on these key elements:

· Diagnostics

· Surveillance

· Prevention and control

· Legal framework

· Stakeholders’ involvement

· M&E

Way forward:

· Formation of the national PPR Control and Eradication Coordination Committee (PCECC) with TORs

· Resource mobilization

· Roll out of 5-year control plan to counties

MIN 5/18/10/2017: Role of AU-IBAR in PPR control and Eradication (Dr. Henry Wamwayi)

AU-IBAR is involved in the development and implementation of a Pan-African Strategy. It offers guidance, technical and financial support to Member States and RECs for strategy development and implementation and is involved in mobilizing and sustaining political support for PPR control and eradication as well as coordination of programmes/interventions with partners at MS, regional, continental and global levels.

Dr Wamwayi focused on socioe-economic importance of SRs in Africa with emphasis on agenda 263(AU) that addresses continental development with key targets such as CAADP. With reference to agriculture, increased production that is market oriented.

OIE reference status – has 182 members and 55 are from Africa. It addresses a 20 year livestock development strategy for Africa (2015-2035) referred to as the African blueprint – LIDESA which is responsible for the pan African (2015-2030) PPR eradication strategy which is aligned to the global PPR strategy aiming eradication by 2030. The OIE and FAO have developed a global roadmap for this. IGAD had developed a roadmap for the Horn of Africa region by 2014 ahead of the global one of 2015. A number of factors favour PPR’s eradication:

· no carrier status

· spread is by direct contact

· the causative virus is very fragile in the environment

· an effective vaccine is available

Largely, AU-IBAR recognizes the importance of other SR diseases (brucellosis, CCPP, Sheep and Goat pox, enterotoxaemia and Rift Valley Fever), the need to strengthen veterinary services, conflict management, empowerment of women and youth in an effort to contribute to economic development. Likewise, AU has a national interest in PPR control

MIN 6/18/10/2017: Development of Thermostable Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) Vaccine by KALRO - Veterinary Research Institute (Dr. Reuben Soi)

Dr. Reuben Soi gave details of the clinical presentation of PPR. The disease was first described in Cote d’Voire in West Africa in 1942. It affects sheep and goats and is caused by a virus similar to the rinderpest, measles and canine distemper viruses. The protocol for thermostabilisation was developed and used to produce a thermostable vaccine. Trehalose alone, Lacto-albumin hydrolysate (LAH) with sucrose and LAH with trehalose were used to stabilize the vaccine before lyophylization. The preparations were then subjected to increased temperatures (accelerated stability testing). Only the LAH/Trehalose stabilized vaccine maintained acceptable titres for up to 15 days at 370C. The effective dose should be about 102.5 Tissue Culture Infective Dose (TCID)50 per animal.

Animal experiments were planned. Goats were immunized and observed for adverse reactions but none were detected. Serum samples were taken at intervals to check for immune responses. The samples will be analyzed with an ELISA kit that has just been acquired. The animals were also to be challenged with a virulent virus which was not immediately available. A virus originally isolated in Kenya was received from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) but it had not been characterized. Effort is being made to obtain one from Canada. A permit has already been issued by the DVS. After the challenge of the on-station a field trial with government animals in Naivasha and Machakos will be done. The activities are currently funded by ASAL-APRP.

The proposed time lines for remaining works are:

1. August 2017 – sample of target animals

2. September, 2017 – vaccinate and monitor

3. October,2017 – completion of monitoring

With all this there will be data on:

1. Stability of vaccine virus

2. Immune response to the vaccine

The data will be useful for variation??? of the registration status of the PPR vaccine. Commercialization issues can then begin.

MIN 7/18/10/2017: Role of Universities in PPR Research (Prof. Gitao C. George)

Universities have a core mandate of teaching students on research methods to ensure new generation of researchers. Currently, there is student undertaking PPR research in goats in Tanzania at South Kivu where prevalence of the disease has been reported in four areas namely; Shabunda, Mwenga, Fizi and Kalehe using real-time PCR. There are studies that have reported occurrence of PPR in camels in Kassala and Gedaref States in Sudan in 2004. Similar reports have been recorded in Ethiopia (Moyale and Miyo Districts), Puntland and in Kenya (Moyale and Marsbit). In Kenya, the clinical findings on affected camels were;

· Good body condition and lacrimation

· Pallor of the mucus membranes

· Heavy tick infestation

· Lethargy

· Sternal recumbency

· Corneal opacity and nervous signs in a few cases

· Bloat and halitosis

· Enlarged lymph nodes – sub-mandibular lymph nodes

· Temperature – Normal 38.3oC– 38.7oC

· Ruminal stasis and death after 3 – 4 days

Key postmortem findings done by the DVS on 3 camels showed;

· Pulmonary congestion and oedema

· Froathing in the trachea

· Petechial and echymotic haemorrhages in the visceral organs (heart, liver, kidney, lymph nodes and sub-cutis)

· Enlarged and haemorrhagic lymph nodes (sub-mandibular, mesenteric and pre-crural lymph nodes)

· Sero-fibrinous fluid in the abdominal and thoracic cavity, pericardial sac

· Cooked appearance of the liver and friable

· Pulpy kidneys and Intestinal compaction

· Stomach contents in the bronchioles and bronchi

MIN 8/18/10/2017: Role of ILRI in PPR Research (Dr. Okoth Edward)

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Works to improve food security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research and more sustainable use of livestock. ILRI research is guided by the PPR-GEF framework which has four components:

· Promotion of an enabling environment and reinforcement of veterinary capacities

· Support to the diagnostic and surveillance systems

· Measures towards PPR eradication

· PPR Control and management

The Global Research and Expertise Network (GREN – PPR) is tasked to enhance research on

· PPR vaccine thermo -tolerance

· Development of DIVA vaccines

· Diagnostic assays

· Formulate multivalent vaccines

· Epidemiology

· Socio -economic studies

· Delivery systems

ILRI is working with OIE, FAO, AU-IBAR and national and regional partners in generating evidence to guide and enhance the success of progressive control of PPR with particular focus on the role of extensive systems in the more remote or marginal areas that are likely to jeopardize national and regional control investments. The approach targets the following;

· Generate detailed global PPR risk maps together with recommendation domains for PPR control strategies

· Generate differential socio-economic impacts of PPR control by types of livestock keepers

· Support capacity development through ABCF, Research and Technologies & Research related services

The current research focuses on;

· Role of thermo-tolerant vaccines

· Technical effectiveness of polyvalent vaccines

· The implications of different PPR strains

· Developing robust diagnostic tools and strategies

· Testing innovative institutional arrangements for delivering PPR vaccination

· Bringing to scale control in areas where it is needed using context adapted vaccine deployment.

MIN 9/18/10/2017: Role of KWS in PPR control and eradication (Dr. Francis Gakuya)

KWS is a state agency responsible for wildlife conservation and management in Kenya established by an Act of Parliament (WCMA, 2013).It functions include:

· Management of PAs (parks, reserves and sanctuaries) under its jurisdiction

· Protection of wildlife

· Providing oversight of wildlife conservation and management outside PAs (e.g. those under County governments, communities and private conservancies/sanctuaries)

· Undertaking & coordination of wildlife research and monitoring

Little is known on the role of wildlife in the ecology of PPR virus. There has been no clinical cases of PPR reported in free-ranging wildlife from sub-Saharan Africa to date. Key questions from current information of PPR in wildlife are;

· Does PPR virus behave in a similar manner to rinderpest virus in wildlife species?

· How susceptible are different species?

· What is the mechanism and route of transmission between domestic and wild animals?

· Can buffalo or other wild bovidae species play a role as a vector & driver of wildlife infection?

· Are African wild small ruminants (capridae & ovidae) susceptible to clinical disease?

· Does the absence of clinical disease in African wild small ruminants species reduce risk of wildlife disease on the continent?

· Is there a wildlife reservoir that might compromise eradication policy?

· Could wild suids play a role in transmission?

The roles of KWS in PPR control and eradication include;

· Passive surveillance – especially in mortality/morbidity episodes or clinical disease affecting mostly wild small ruminants

· Active (targeted) surveillance - confirm the PPRV sero positivity status in different wildlife species and determine endemic situation of PPR, the role of wildlife in the ecology of PPRV

· Transmission studies (experimental setting) – wildlife to wildlife/wildlife to domestic animals

· Ecological studies – to understand the ecological factors and drivers of the infection

All these require collaborative efforts by different institutions. Wildlife could be a sentinel in endemic areas & during vaccination eradication campaigns. There is need to confirm if the virus can spread through wildlife populations or just represents spill over hosts from domestic infections and more wildlife domestic animal virus isolates to understand viral population evolution including the role of buffalo or other species as reservoir in order for successful eradication which may depend on these unknowns.

MIN 10/18/10/2017: Role of KeVeVaPI in Vaccine production (CEO, Dr. Jane Wachira)

KEVEVAPI is at the centre of veterinary vaccines in Kenya. It came into being in the early 1990s and inherited vaccine production from other government institutions. It is a government parastatal classified as commercial and strategic. The institute produces safe, efficacious and affordable veterinary vaccines, undertakes relevant research, provides information, markets and distributes vaccine for the benefit of the livestock industry.

It is working closely with the national and county governments to ensure that their requirements are met.

KEVEVAPI manufactures vaccines against major livestock diseases including Trans boundary diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, CBPP and PPR that occur in Kenya and the East African region. Other vaccines are produced to control:

1.

2. Rift Valley Fever

3. Lumpy Skin Disease

4. Contagious Caprine Pleuro-pneumonia

5. Sheep and Goat Pox

6. Bluetongue

7. Orf (Contagious Ecthyma)

8. Newcastle

9. Fowl typhoid

10. Fowl pox

11. Turkey pox

PPR vaccine production started in 2008 following a request by the Director of Veterinary Services after a major outbreak of the disease in the northern part of Kenya. A master seed (75/1 LK6 VERO 77) was received in 2007 from PANVAC and staff attached to PANVAC for training. The system used to produce rinderpest vaccine was used for producing PPR. The virus is however very fragile and it required stabilization. Capacity for more production as demand increased was built by the VACNADA project.

Between 2012 and 2016 vaccine production ranged from 1,038,950 doses in 2012 to 9,524,000 in 2013. With the planned eradication of the diseases it is expected that production will increase considerably.

KEVEVAPI has collaborated with KALRO to produce a thermostable PPR vaccine and the collaboration is ongoing. KEVEVAPI worked out the formulations for stabilization and the cost implications. KEVEVAPI is also working with KALRO to develop and produce a sub-unit CBPP vaccine.

Recent achievements include ISO 9001 certification and the production and launch of a purified oil-based FMD vaccine.

MIN 11/18/10/2017: PPR activities by FAO (Dr. Sam Okuthe)

PPR eradication is important as the disease destructive, fast spreading viral disease that kills sheep and goats currently present in more than 70 countries (Africa, Middle East and Asia). PPR, year after year, deeply affects the lives of some 300 million of the world’s poorest people, whose livelihoods depend on these small ruminants. Over 80% of the world’s sheep and goat population is at risk of becoming infected by the disease, which can kill over 90% of animals exposed. PPR causes annual global losses estimated at US$1.4 to US$2.1 billion. Related loss of livestock causes pastoralists and farmers to migrate away from their lands and cultures in search of alternative livelihoods.

FAO activities in Kenya include;

· Capacity building in Epidemio-surveillance (PE/PDS), Syndromic surveillance AND laboratory diagnostics

· Support development of surveillance strategies

· Support evaluation of ESS (SET)

· Outbreak response

The control and eventual eradication of the disease will contribute significantly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular the elimination of poverty (SDG1) and the end of hunger and malnutrition (SDG2).Rapid progress on the eradication of PPR is also seen as a key factor contributing directly or indirectly to the achievement of other SDGs such as: SDG 3; SDG 5; SDG 8; SDG 11; SDG 12; and SDG 17.

FAO supports regional and national strategies for control and eradication of PPR including the Regional Strategy developed in 6 out of the 9 regions in addition to the two prepared by IGAD and SADC. Ten countries were supported to develop their PPR National Strategic Plans (NSPs) together with other partners such as AU-IBAR, IGAD and CEBEVIRAH who are also using their funds to support around 30 countries. Field missions carried by the PPR Secretariat in the following countries:

· Djibouti, to develop a PPR NSP

· Eritrea, to develop a national TCP on PPR

· Mongolia, to address the PPR outbreaks in small ruminants and saiga antelopes and develop the NSP

· Niger, to backstop the implementation of the PRAPS programme and develop the NSP

FAO was involved in the second PPR vaccines producers meeting organized in collaboration with the Veterinary Services of Morocco and MCI-Santé animale in Mohammedia-Casablanca, 25 – 27 April 2017 which was attended by 34 vaccine manufacturers and research institutions. Among the recommendations adopted during the meeting:

· Vaccine manufacturers comply with the international OIE standards,

· AU-PANVAC increases its capacity to meet demands for international quality control of PPR vaccines

· During the formulation of their NSPs, countries evaluate their needs on PPR vaccines for the next five years

An update of the development of PPR thermostable vaccines was also provided during the meeting.

Other PPR side events or presentations were made during the following:

1. 12th International Conference on Goats, Antalya - Turkey, 26 September 2016

2. 120th US Animal Health Association (Foreign and Emerging Diseases Committee and Sheep and Goats Committee), Greensboro-US 19 October 2016

3. FAO Council, Rome, 9 December 2016

4. OIE 85th General Session, Paris, 23 May 2017

5. 9th International Sheep Veterinary Congress, Harrogate - UK, 24 May 2017

MIN 12/18/10/2017: Report on other PPR activities (Dr. Francis Gakuya and Dr. Harry Oyas)

1. Pathway to peste des petits ruminants virus elimination – methods for complex ecosystems (Mara-Serengeti ecosystem) by the Royal Veterinary College- London.

- The aim of the project is to improve understanding of host-pathogen ecosystem of livestock, wildlife and PPR virus to facilitate the design of effective and efficient strategies for the elimination of PPR virus.

- The specific objectives are:

i. Definition of wildlife and small ruminant population spatial and temporal dynamics and their interface in the ecosystem

ii. Describe the spatial and temporal dynamics of PPR infection and disease in wildlife and domestic small ruminant populations in the ecosystem

iii. Develop surveillance and vaccination strategies for the elimination of PPR virus from the ecosystem

iv. Strengthen coordination and build capacity to support cross-border disease surveillance and control policy and strategy

2. Pirbright proposals on vaccine trials and wildlife/ livestock interface study.

· To challenge buffalo, impala, warthog and gazelle to see if they can develop clinical PPR. This info will add into the knowledge on epidemiology of PPR

3. Testing of a DIVA live attenuated vaccine by DVS- Pirbright is yet to submit proposal to DVS for approval

4. Feed-the Future (FtF) PPR work in Karamoja and Turkana ecosystem proposed by the University of Florida- Thermostable vaccine use to be piloted in cross-border areas of Kenya and Uganda

MIN 13/18/10/2017: Questions, answers and comments during plenary sessions (All)

General questions

Q1: Who are the stakeholders making up the PPR Control and Eradication Coordination Committee?

A: There are about 30 stakeholders whose needs and expectations were identified.

Comment: A stakeholder analysis mapping should have been provided.

Suggestion: Apart from the identified stakeholders in the committee, there should also be observers. Those suggested were OIE regional office, development partners, FAO, CoG, Association of Meat Exporters and a consumer organization.

Comment: A clear roadmap to implement the strategy should be shared with the PS for support.

Q2: Given that there are devolved governments, what are the economic impacts of the disease in each county?

A: These have not been worked out.

Comment: CECs for agriculture have caucuses for various crops but livestock are often lumped together. There should be caucuses for different livestock as well. Sheep and goats were singularly recognized only when El Nino brought about disease outbreaks like RVF.

Comment: The EU was supporting a transformation initiative in counties and it has involved the CoG. The sad thing is that while within the CoG secretariat there are officers competent in crops there is little competency in livestock. The CoG has to be looped in the PPR eradication efforts in order for the effort to get the necessary support from county governments.

SESSION 1: PPR control/eradication strategy and current PPR situation in Kenya

Prof Gitao.

Q1: What happens when Regional Economic Countries (RECs) go in different directions e.g. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda? All efforts will be lost.

Q2: Devolution: Priorities at counties are different and they may not support PPR disease control.

A (Dr. Oyas): The National government through the national PPR eradication committee is to develop framework of stakeholder engagement including counties to get buy-in and commitment of funds.

Jacqueline kasiti lichoti.

Q1: What role is East African Community (EAC) playing in PPR control and eradication if any?

ANSWER (DR. Wamwayi): EAC is participating in the Eastern Africa Regional Animal Health Network (EARAHN). The EAC animal health capacity is currently low and most of the PPR activities in the region are currently supported through IGAD ICPACD for the IGAD member states.

Q2: Why economic growth and empowerment is not one the outputs in the PPR control and eradication yet this is what will make countries/donors fund an activity.

A (Dr Wamwayi): These are key justifications for the PPR strategy and programme. They are contained within the detailed documents. The presentation was a highly summarized version of the documents.

Monicah Maichomo

Q1: How much is national & county governments supporting (financially) PPR work?

A: contributions in terms of personnel, vehicles and offices are substantial. Vaccines are also being provided during emergencies e.g drought and el nino.

Q2: How workable is animal movement control in Kenya?

A: Animal movement is difficult to control because it is a survival strategy for pasture and water, for trade or to escape conflict.

John Mugambi: Q There is a perception by livestock keepers that PPR is becoming less of a problem. Is this supported by any data (epidemiology etc)?

A (Dr. Oyas): Two studies carried out with support of FAO, one at the initial outbreak in 2007 and one in 2015 indicated that the perception of the disease had changed. By 2015 farmers were experiencing fewer losses and therefore ranking PPR as no 3 or 4

Dr Simon Kihu: Q: Is there a framework for engaging the counties in the PPR control and eradication efforts?

A (Dr Harry Oyas): the formation of the National PPR evaluation committee is expected to give rise to subcommittees which will handle specific tasks. One of the tasks will be to develop a framework for engaging counties and other stakeholders.

SESSION 2: Role of various organizations in PPR control

Q (Dr. Kihu): Current ecosystems of PPR enquiry in Kenya are more based on what was learned from Rinderpest. However this diseases are different including hosts. Do you intend to confirm the ecosystem scientifically?

A (Dr. Oyas): I concur that this approach may need to be more focused-- epidemiologically related populations. Ideas on how to do this are welcome.

Q (Dr. Wamwayi): Wildlife conservation owners/committes were not among the stakeholders to be interviewed. Was this intended?

A (Dr. Gakuya): Wildlife conservancy managers and communities are among the stakeholders and will be involved in the surveys.

Q (Dr.WAmwayi): Have the institutions proposing to conduct various research activities shared the full project proposals with the Kenyan institutions outlining the roles of each partner/stakeholder and the nature of the research work?.

A (Drs Gakuya/Oyas): The full proposal has been shared with the partner institutions.

Q (Jacqueline Kasiti Lichoti): Are you looking at the other factors that were there when there was sudden death and the current project activities. Are all the factors present at that time being considered during this project period?

A (Prof. Gitao): We shall look at the history of the cases, clinical signs etc. We shall also experimentally infect camels among other ideas. It is a PhD project hence the heavy questions.

Q (Dr. Wamwayi): Was any follow-up made to confirm if the goat shown in S.Tanzania was co-infected with a Pox virus and PPR?

Comments: 1. Association of sudden death in camels with PPR should be very carefully investigated. 2. Role of camels in PPR needs to be further investigated in view of the confirmation of virus.

A (Prof Gitao): 1.The student was unable to do this –show co-infection. In naive animals in DRC Congo, co-infection with pox virus has been confirmed. There is an immune-suppression hence the co-infection.

2. We are getting detailed experiments with camel infection to prove the role of camels in PPR .If confirmed, it will have an impact on PPR control and eradication.

Q (Wamwayi): 1. What is the position regarding the ownership of the PPR thermo-tolerant vaccine developed at ILRI and proposed for field testing by Tufts university. 2. What measures is ILRI taking to anchor proposed and on-going research activities in some countries to the respective national PPR strategies.

A (Dr. Okoth): 1.ILRI is publicly funded and all consideration is made to ensure that products that result from research go back to support the public. However, there is need for recognition of ILRI in its Research contribution. 2. ILRI participates in all strategy meeting in the region and national strategy meetings so that research implemented are in line with regional and national strategies.

Q (Dr.Wamwayi): What was done to stabilize the PPR vaccine and what are the cost implication of the stabilizers if different from the conventional ones?

A (Drs.Soi and Wachira): Trehalose is the most expensive stabilizer. A combination of Trehalose and sucrose would make the vaccine more affordable.

Q (Jacqueline Kasiti Lichoti): What informed in checking for PPR antibodies upto 28th day post challenge? Will you continue to find out the duration of immunity or it’s assumed to be long life like the current PPR vaccine.

A (Dr. Soi): monitoring of the animals is ongoing and we may be able to check them at 6 months post vaccination. Periods of up to one year will be explored.

Q (Jacqueline Kasiti Lichoti): have you carried out challenge studies for the thermostable vaccine.

A (Dr. Soi): No challenge has been done. It has not be easy to get a virulent virus. The one we get from IAEA had no history of its effect on goats. I have now learned that Prof Gitao has material that can be used for challenge purposes.

COMMENT (Dr. Monicah Moichomo): There are various activities (ILRI, UoN, Mara-serengeti) doing sequence analysis of PPRV isolates. It is important to share the information and see how vaccine improvement or control can be targeted.

SESSION 3: PPR activities - studies in Mara-Serengeti and vaccine trial proposals by Pirbright

Q (Dr. Kasiti): In the methodology of the Mara-Serengeti study there is network analysis but in the outcome it’s not mentioned or covered.

A (Dr. Gakuya): It was an omission. It is an important expected outcome.

Q (Dr. Mugambi): NACOSTI is expected to issue permits for research in Kenya especially if it involves foreign institutions. Do you have the necessary permit?

A (Dr. Gakuya): Yes the NACOSTI approval process has been initiated.

Q (Dr. Kasiti): South Sudan is at stage 1 in the PPR eradication pathway upto 2019. Is it that they will not meet conditions until 2019?

A (Dr.Okuthe): The capacity of Veterinary Service in South Sudan is very low and they will only have been able to carry out assessment and socio-economics studies by 2019. They assessed themselves based on the road map criteria and they will not be able to have moved beyond stage 1 by 2019.

Q (Dr. Maichomo): Who qualifies to get laboratory support in terms of reagents from FAO?

A (Dr. Okuthe): FAO works with member states and in particular the Director of Veterinary Services through which most of this support is channeled. Other government institutions also get support including research organizations and institutions of higher learning.

Q (Dr. Kasiti): FAO/DVS are carrying out MersCov surveillance in camels. The University of Nairobi can get in contact with FAO/DVS to see what they can share.

A (Prof. Gitao): I have attended some of their meetings and we have also met in Isiolo and other places. We can actually work together.

Q (Dr. Kasiti): What is the cost of the thermostable PPR vaccine in comparison to the current PPR live vaccine?

A (Dr. Soi/ Dr. Wachira): The cost is comparably the same with the current vaccine.

MIN 14/18/10/2017: Recommendations and Way Forward (All)

1. In recognition of the various ongoing activities feeding into the National PPR eradication strategy, its recommended that DVS constitutes the National PPR Eradication committee to enhance coordination by end November 2017. AU-IBAR and IGAD/ICPALD to provide technical and financial support through the STSD project

2. The Kenya PPR research coordination network

a. DVS and KALRO to map stakeholders by end of October 2017 and convene a meeting

b. Form a committee to define terms of reference to be adopted during the next meeting to be convened by DVS and KALRO by end of December.

3. Research proposals from external collaborators to be channeled through the respective institutional approval mechanisms and meet the national statutory requirements for externally funded proposals

4. Any information resulting from research activities that has implications in the national disease status should be approved by the DVS prior to publication / publisization

5. Any research activities indicating PPRV presence in wildlife or camels should be followed up to provide further / detailed data as this has implications on the implementation of national, regional, pan-African and global PPR strategies

6. Integrate training for capacity enhancement in PPR research activities in surveillance, diagnosis, impact assessment/socio-economics and control activities by all institutions (DVS, KALRO, KWS, FAO, ILRI ……)

MIN 15/18/10/2017: Vote of thanks and departure (Dr. John Mugambi)

Finally Dr. J. Mugambi offered the vote of thanks. He observed that the thermo-stable vaccine would be invaluable in the PPR eradication campaign and it was time the thermostabilization work was completed. Some estimates in the US had shown that up to 80% of vaccine costs were attributable to the cold chain. He suggested that there be a local network for PPR for information sharing. This could be handled by the committee suggested by the DVS. The meeting ended at 5.15 P.M. with prayer by Dr. Sam Okuthe.

Chairman………...……….Date……16th November 2017……...

Secretary…………………………….Date……16th November 2017………

Annex: Pictorials

A section of paticipants during one of the sessions