Active and Passive Surveillance

Due to its substantial economic impact, lumpy skin disease (LSD) is categorized as a notifiable disease by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). An outbreak or use of vaccines against LSD inflicts immediate restrictions to the export of live cattle and some of their products. After an outbreak or after vaccinations have been ceased, affected countries need to establish disease surveillance to restore the freedom-of-disease status. In recently (2014–2017) affected countries in Southeast Europe, the spread of the disease was swiftly halted using harmonized regional vaccination campaigns against LSD. Ideally, the collaboration between affected countries should be continued by conducting the surveillance programmes aiming to regain the disease-free status, also in a regional harmonized manner.