Development of European Commission's strategy to address foot-and-mouth disease was a topic of discussion in Armenia
YEREVAN, August 22. /ARКА/. The Deputy Minister of Economy of Armenia, Tatevik Sargsyan, along with European Commission experts Carsten Pötzsch and Paulie Compston, engaged in discussions regarding the development of the strategy to combat foot-and-mouth disease in Yerevan.
As reported by the Ministry of Economy's press service, the experts visited Armenia from August 18 to 20 to take part in a working conference focused on the formulation of the Official Foot-and-Mouth Disease Control Program (PCP3) and evaluating the socio-economic implications of these initiatives. The meeting addressed ongoing processes and future collaboration prospects with the European Commission.
It was highlighted that in 2025, Armenia became the 40th honorary member of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, which operates under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The Deputy Minister emphasized that this membership represents a significant advancement in enhancing Armenia's involvement in public health and fostering international cooperation.
Established in 1954, the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease is one of the commissions of the UN FAO. It conducts extensive operations across more than 100 countries in Eurasia, the Middle East, and Africa amid challenging epidemiological conditions.
The commission comprises 40 countries globally, including Armenia, Georgia, and Turkey in the region.
Foot-and-mouth disease is an infectious ailment marked by fever and the formation of blisters and erosions on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, as well as on the skin between the fingers and around the nails. The disease primarily affects farm animals, but horses, camels, dogs, cats, and rodents are also highly susceptible to infection. The primary mode of transmission to humans is through the consumption of raw milk from infected animals and its processed derivatives, with meat being a less common source.-0-
