15 Nov 2015

Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has contributed positively to the global eradication of rinderpest disease, Minister of Agriculture, Mr Patrick Ralotsia, has said.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the sending of rinderpest infected material from Botswana to Ethiopia, Mr Ralotsia said BVI started production of normal rinderpest vaccine in 1985 followed by themostable vaccines from 1994.

He said the transfer of rinderpest virus infected materials called for a high level biosecurity protocol between all stakeholders and this particular case Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) international guidelines.

Mr Ralotsia noted that BVI did its best to finalise material transfer agreement on time.

“I applaud BVI for having identified a local company, Botswana Couriers and Logistics who have provided a secure, GPS traceable cold chain compliant box as well as providing up to the minute feedback on the location and temperature of this consignment.

He also highlighted that it was coincidental that the transfer of the infectious material from BVI had coincided with the launch of the Ethiopian airline services directly from SSKIA to BOLE International airport in transit to Debre Zeit earlier this year.

On one hand, Mr Ralotsia said rinderpest vaccine production at BVI was stopped in 2005 following the recommendation of FAO and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) adding that this gave more evidence of quality and standard of BVI’s vaccines.

Mr Ralotsia said the shipping of Rinderpest Infected Material to African Union-Pan African Vaccine Center (AU-PANVAC) in Ethiopia for biosafety, sequestration and risk reduction was not just shipping exercise but clear evidence that Botswana complied with Biosecurity International Standards.

Dr Moetapele Letshwenyo, OIE sub-regional representative for Southern Africa, said for centuries, the outbreak of rinderpest decimated millions of livestock and wildlife worldwide resulting in famine and starvation.

Dr Letshwenyo said in the post eradication era and following this declaration, OIE member countries unanimously adopted a resolution that committed the international community to specific activities to maintain global freedom from rinderpest.

The activities included destroying the remaining stock of material containing rinderpest virus or ensuring that they were sequestered and safely stored in an approved holding facility.

The other activity was to maintain vigilance and forbid any research which involved the manipulation of rinderpest virus containing materials unless the research is approved by OIE and FAO. Ends