Sequencing pathogens to support animal disease control

In 2019, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and an ineffective vaccine put an untold number of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and other cloven-hoofed livestock in Morocco at risk. A highly contagious viral disease, FMD causes fever and vesicles in the mouth and on the feet of infected animals. This can lead to lameness and other symptoms, making the animals unfit for consumption, causing losses for farmers. The end of the outbreak began with a genetic comparative analysis that resulted in the selection of a different vaccine — a solution made possible thanks to IAEA support to local authorities, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United to Nations (FAO), in building capacity in advanced molecular techniques. Viruses, like the one that causes FMD, are constantly evolving into new varieties and strains. Vaccines are an effective option to control virus outbreaks, but specific vaccines only work on specific virus strains. Understanding a virus's genome is essential to identifying the best vaccine.