Control and Eradication of Viral Diseases of Ruminants: Official and Voluntary Measures

The monitoring and control of infectious animal diseases, limiting or prevention of their spread and efforts towards their eventual eradication are central tasks of the veterinary civil service. In addition to the cost-effectiveness of prophylaxis over disease and treatment, the animal welfare aspect is also involved. The purpose of this work is to review, describe and assess the available control measures against four viral infections or diseases of domestic ruminants. The pertinent Finnish and EU legislation are outlined and assessed briefly. The successful eradication of two of the diseases and significant reduction of the prevalence of the other two in Finland are described in detail. The efficacies of the official control and eradication measures and of the actions of voluntary control programmes are analyzed using a heuristic formulation for the infection reproduction number (R). The significance of financial compensation from the state for the costs incurred and the role of continued surveillance and health monitoring for both overseeing and maintaining the achieved status are emphasized.