Regional workshop on the response to recent ruminant TADs incursions in Europe

Over the past year, incursions of ruminant transboundary animal diseases have increased sharply in South-East and Central Europe, raising great concern among both affected and at-risk countries. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, was reported this year in Germany, followed by a second virus introduction to Hungary and Slovakia. Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), also a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic sheep and goats and wild ruminants, was detected in Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania in 2024, in Hungary and Albania in 2025. Sheep and goat pox (SGP), likewise a contagious viral disease of small ruminants, has been reported over the past year both in Bulgaria and Greece. Due to this upsurge in incursions of FMD, PPR and SGP into traditionally disease-free areas, the risk of further spread to neighbouring countries increased. Sharing lessons learned on the detection, prevention, control, and recovery from these diseases across affected and at-risk countries contributes to better actions.

With this in mind, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is organizing a regional workshop on 25–26 June 2025 in Budapest. The workshop will bring together representatives from the veterinary authorities of Western Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe, and experts from affected countries to share their experience and provide an opportunity to discuss:

• Disease detection and lessons learnt on outbreak investigation;
• Control with focus on lessons learned on stamping out;
• Communication during outbreaks; and
• Recovery (e.g., restocking, surveillance after outbreaks, farmer support).