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Seeking clarification from DEFRA about their
H5N1 vaccination policy:
copy of email sent to Fred Landeg,
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer
James Irvine
Editor, www.land-care.org.uk
Filed 03 Mar 06
©www.land-care.org.uk
Tuesday 28th Feb 2006
To: Fred Landeg, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer,
fred.landeg@defra.gsi.gov.uk
From: Dr James Irvine, Editor www.land-care.org.uk, james.irvine@zen.co.uk
Dear Dr Landeg
I write to register my concern at the statements
made personally on national TV by Professor Sir David King and which
also appear on the DEFRA website regarding the UK position with
respect to vaccination for H5N1 strain of avian flu.
Specifically, it is stated that presently available
vaccines would mask the clinical features of infection in birds
and, moreover, would lead to the shedding of live virus from inoculated
birds exposed to the infection, thus spreading disease with loss
of control.
My concern is about the accuracy of these statements.
I refer to the paper published by Ellis et al
(2004) in the peer reviewed journal Avian Pathology vol 33: 405-412
in which the authors report their experience in Hong Kong using
the Intervet vaccine, which is made using H5N2, and which appears
to be the same vaccine as the French are currently using. The paper
concluded that in the field there was no evidence of prolonged shedding
of virus in vaccinated birds, and that vaccination did successfully
interrupt transmission of the disease. Surely it is the experience
in the field that is important. The Ellis et al paper is available
in full (pdf) on the www.land-care.org.uk website - see entry 26th
Feb 2006 "So what is the score with avian flu vaccines?"
I would be grateful if you would kindly provide
me with peer reviewed publications which justify the statements
that are being put out by DEFRA through the Chief Scientist. On
contacting David King's office and DEFRA I was assured that the
text of the statements came from the office of the Chief Veterinary
Officer.
My interest is on account of being editor of the
website www.land-care.org.uk which has a substantial readership,
amounting to some 50,000 hits this month, with some 8,000 visits
and some 30,000 pages read. I am also interested having served on
the Royal Society of Edinburgh FMD Inquiry 2001/2002.
Professor Sir David King's statement on TV today
- that it is likely that H5N1 may become endemic in the UK and may
take some 5 years to clear - makes it all the more necessary to
ensure that the scientific basis for not vaccinating is sound. On
the evidence that I am aware of at the moment there would appear
to be significant doubt. On the face of it the Chief Scientist would
appear to be transmitting misinformation.
Please clarify.
Should you feel that there are any errors of fact
on www.land-care.org.uk please advise.
Yours sincerely
James Irvine
Dr James Irvine FRSE DSc FRCPath FRCEd FInstBiol
editor: www.land-care.org.uk
Director, Teviot Scientific Publications Ltd
Previously member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh FMD Inquiry
2001/2
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