Mongolia Declared Free of Rinderpest

National Workshop On The Diagnosis And Surveillance Of Transboundary Animal Diseases Support from FAO's programme of the Global Rinderpest Eradication Campaign (GREP) and through IAEA TCP MON/5/012 provided though a jointly organized "National Workshop On The Diagnosis And Surveillance Of Transboundary Animal Diseases" was instrumental to achieve an international recognition of freedom from rinderpest disease. The five day workshop which was attended by 52 veterinarians representing Government institutions and the 22 aimags (provinces) and which was held in October 2003 and was followed through expert assistance under IAEA TCP MON/5/012 which helped Mongolia now to obtain international OIE certification during the recent OIE conference held in May, 2004 in Paris France. There was also a CD produced from the workshop.

With a human population of 2.5 million and a livestock population of 25 million animals livestock trade is an important part of the economy. The livestock sector is the single most important sector for the majority of the population in Mongolia. Over 50% of the population depend on, and more than 30% of the GDP, is generated through the livestock sector.