Lumpy skin disease epidemiological report IV: data collection and analysis.

In 2019, no lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreaks were reported in South-Eastern Europe, the mass vaccination regional campaign with homologous LSD vaccine continued for the fourth year with over 1.8 million bovines vaccinated in the region, preventing further outbreaks since 2016. LSD outbreaks were reported in Turkey, including western Turkey, in Russia and in eastern Asia affecting China, Bangladesh and India for the first time.

Field observations and experiences gained from the implementation of control measures against lumpy skin disease in South-East Europe between 2015 and 2017.

The first epidemics of lumpy skin disease (LSD) reported in Europe in 2015 severely affected the cattle farming sector in several Balkan countries. After the first incursion into Greece in 2015, the disease quickly spread across the Balkan region with over 7000 outbreaks reported by the end of 2016. Thanks to a coordinated regional control and eradication policy, the spread of the disease was halted by the end of 2017.

Neethling vaccine proved highly effective in controlling lumpy skin disease epidemics in the Balkans.

Despite the wide use of the live attenuated Neethling lumpy skin disease (LSD) vaccine, only limited data existed on its efficacy and effectiveness prior to the large LSD epidemic in the Balkans, which took place during 2016-2017. In addition, analysis of risk factors for the disease was hardly performed with proper control for vaccination effects and potential differences in exposure to the virus. Data from the LSD epidemics in six Balkan countries (Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Albania) affected during 2016 were analyzed to determine vaccine effectiveness (VE) and risk factors for LSD infection at the farm level.