Armenia allocates AMD 18.5 mln for research of serum against small ruminant plague

p

YEREVAN, October 3. /ARKA/. The Armenian government approved today the allocation of AMD 18.5mln for the program of research of serum against small ruminant plague.nbsp;br/pp

The program is aimed at assessing the risks of possible entry of the disease, identifying or excluding the spread of the virus in specific communities, as well as recognizing Armenia as a disease-free territory at the international level.nbsp;nbsp;/pp

Effective implementation of the program activities depends on two financial components - 1) procurement of diagnostic and veterinary goods (for 12 million drams) and 2) sampling, laboratory tests and analyses (for 6.5 million drams).nbsp;nbsp;/pp

Small ruminant plague is an acute infectious disease, the causative agent of which is morbillivirus from the family Paramyxoviridae.nbsp;nbsp;/pp

Since 1997 Armenia has been a full member of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and according to the relevant article of the law “On Veterinary Medicine”, infectious diseases of animals in the Republic of Armenia are subject to mandatory notification and registration.nbsp;nbsp;/pp

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization plans to recognize European countries, as well as Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan as historically or classically free of the disease by 2027. -0-/pp nbsp;/pp nbsp;/pp nbsp;/p