On 17 May, veterinary leaders from central and eastern European FVE member associations participated in the so-called ‘Visegrád Plus’ spring meeting, hosted by the Veterinary Chamber of Serbia, in Novi Sad, Serbia.
The role of WOAH in disease control
Technical support, training and coordination of animal disease control: the role of the regional World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) was presented by guest speaker Budimir Plavšić (WOAH regional representation for Europe). He also highlighted the role of the standing groups of experts for various transboundary diseases affecting the region, including African swine fever, lumpy skin disease, rabies, peste des petits ruminants and highly pathogenic avian influenza.
FMD: improving cooperation
The central theme of the meeting was the regional epizootic disease situation, with a particular emphasis on the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD) in Hungary and Slovakia. Discussions focused on how countries can improve cooperation to more effectively prevent, detect, and control outbreaks.
Disease outbreak updates
Several delegates provided an update on the situation in their country. Zsolt Pinter (Hungarian Veterinary Chamber) announced that his country had lost its rabies-free status following a case near the Ukrainian border. Participants also learned about the 85 outbreaks of HPAI in Poland so far (up from 50 for the entire year 2024), and about the worrying outbreaks of Q fever (coxiellosis) in Montenegro.
Updates from FVE and UEVP
During the updates from international veterinary organisations, UEVP President Volker Moser shared current UEVP priorities and activities. FVE President Siegfried Moder and Vice-President Piotr Kwicieński presented FVE’s latest initiatives, including an in-depth update on developments regarding veterinary medicines in Europe. Next meetings: Visegrád, Hungary (10-12 October 2025) and Lučenec, Slovakia (15-17 May 2026).
On the photo, from left: Piotr Kwicieński, Siegfried Moder, Volker Moser