Seed virus for PPR Vaccine preparation
National Veterinary Laboratory receives seed virus for PPR Vaccine preparation | پی پی آر کی ویکسین کی تیاری کی جانب اہم پیش رفت
Details about PPR Disease in Pakistan
کیرتھر پارک کے آبیکس میں پی پی آر کی تصدیق، قربان علی خشک کی ڈان کیلئے خصوصی خبر
The French Agricultural Research Center for International Development has provided seed virus, cell lines and serum for the preparation of PPR vaccine. The center is the reference lab for PPR of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). At a ceremony held in Islamabad, FAO Representative in Pakistan Farrukh Tovero handed over a seed package worth 25,000 euros to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
Additional Secretary Syed Khalid Gardezi thanked FAO for providing the seed virus. He appreciated FAO’s continued support in strengthening the Office of the Animal Husbandry Commissioner, National Veterinary Laboratory and Provincial Livestock Department.
Experts said that PPR disease, also known as sheep and goat plague, is becoming a serious threat to livestock globally. The disease has caused serious economic losses to farmers worldwide. There is also a ban on international trade in animals and their meat affected by the disease. FAO and the World Organization for Animal Health have jointly launched a global program to eliminate PPR by 2030. Pakistan has also set a target of eliminating PPR by 2028.
Experts further said on this occasion that this package received by Pakistan will immediately enable the production of adequate quantities of PPR vaccine locally and will save valuable foreign exchange spent on vaccine import. It was further stated that the long-term benefits of this initiative include the elimination of PPR disease, which will result in a saving of Rs 60 billion in losses due to PPR disease in Pakistan every year and will increase the employment of livestock farmers.
It was further informed on this occasion that the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD) will also provide training to teams involved in the preparation of PPR vaccines from the provinces to improve the skills of these professionals from the provincial departments of livestock in vaccine preparation, storage of seeds and cell lines. This training will be provided under the National Development Plan for the Elimination of PPR organized by the National Veterinary Laboratory, Islamabad.
