From 1 to 3 July 2026, Mr. Talgat Bolatovich Karibayev, Head of the Infectious Diseases Diagnostics Laboratory of the laboratory of the RSE on the REM “National Reference Center for Veterinary” (NRCV), participated in the Regional Advisory Groups (RAG) Meeting on Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), held in Ganja, Republic of Azerbaijan.The event was jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
The meeting brought together members of the Regional Advisory Groups (RAG), heads of veterinary services, representatives of WOAH, FAO, EuFMD, GF-TADs, national reference laboratories, and leading experts from the countries of Western Eurasia. The main objective of the meeting was to strengthen regional coordination in the prevention and control of FMD and PPR, enhance the effectiveness of the Regional Advisory Groups, and reinforce cooperation among the countries of the region.
As part of the programme, participants took part in simulation exercises assessing the implementation stages of FMD and PPR control and eradication programmes. They also reviewed practical approaches to the application of the PCP-FMD SAT and PMAT tools, discussed mechanisms for assessing countries’ progress, improving regional collaboration, exchanging epidemiological information, and preparing documentation required for obtaining official disease status recognition and approval of disease control programmes by WOAH.
Participation in the event provided an opportunity to become acquainted with modern international approaches to regional cooperation and the evaluation of national programmes for the control of transboundary and high-impact animal diseases, as well as to exchange experience with leading international experts. The knowledge and practical experience gained will contribute to the further development of the epizootic surveillance and laboratory diagnostic system in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
