Morocco is willing in the future to involve the private sector in the surveillance of transboundary diseases, through remuneration. Previously, the decision whether to vaccinate against sheep pox or not was made by the Regional Veterinary Services. A Ministerial Note was sent all around the country requesting the different partners to combine their efforts in order to achieve the desired objective of eradicating the disease. Vaccination coverage has increased from the 1999 level of 40 percent to reach 60 percent in 2000. In conclusion, with the exception of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya where more commitment should be shown to attain the objective of the sheep pox eradication programme, all the countries are on a good track towards eradicating the disease by 2005.
Sheep pox is the major ovine pathology in Algeria.
The high concentration of flocks, with frequent animal contacts in stubble fields, around water points and during transhumance movements, combined with insufficient vaccination coverage, have helped maintain the disease. Despite the significant decrease in the number of reported outbreaks since 1996, sheep pox continues to be reported in certain regions of the country. Temporal and spatial distribution of sheep pox Ovine livestock mass vaccination against sheep pox has been practised in Algeria for several years.