Further Reading (Brucellosis)
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21 February 2002
DEFRA News Release: 20/02/03
Cull of Livestock in the light of brucellosis cases in Scotland
Defra is to carry out a cull of three beef animals
imported into England from Northern Ireland from a herd which has
subsequently had bovine brucellosis. These animals were among five
imported into Great Britain last September. The affected animals
and contacts were placed under movement restriction following a
brucellosis breakdown in the exporting herd in Northern Ireland.
Four of the animals, one of which died earlier this year of an indeterminate
cause, were imported to a farm near Middlesborough and the remaining
animal went to a holding in Scotland.
Veterinary advice is that all of the imported
animals should be culled. Movement restrictions placed on the contact
animals in the herd will remain in place and the animals will be
subject to a requirement to test for brucellosis over a period of
months.
The decision to cull the animals comes at the
same time as a case in Scotland, which has been confirmed today
where two animals - imported from the Republic of Ireland last June
- have aborted due to Brucella abortus. The herd at a farm in the
Forfar area of Angus, has been under movement restrictions following
notification at the end of December that there had been a brucellosis
breakdown in the herd of origin in the Republic of Ireland.
In this case a total of 36 heifers born in Spring
2000 were exported to Scotland from a herd in Roscommon in May/June
2002. In accordance with current surveillance procedures, they were
all routinely blood tested on arrival and at 60 days post-import.
The animals all tested negative for brucellosis between July and
September last year.
All the animals were successfully traced to five
farms in Scotland. All the groups of imported animals and close
contacts have been placed under movement restrictions and kept isolated
from other cattle in their respective herds. As in the case of the
animals in England, veterinary advice is that all of the imported
animals should be culled.
Brucellosis has not occurred in Great Britain
since 1993. For humans, the main risk is to those in direct contact
with livestock; symptoms can include recurrent or chronic fever.
There is no risk from pasteurised milk, cooked meat or contact with
pasteurised animal products.
Chief Veterinary Officer Jim Scudamore, who confirmed
the outbreak in Scotland today said veterinary advice in England
and Scotland was that any future risk of disease breakdown and spread
should be contained by culling the imported animals and any offspring.
Defra and the Devolved Administrations have been
working closely with the farming community to tackle the potential
threat from brucellosis, particularly when re-stocking farms. Mr
Scudamore said the developments were a stark reminder for farmers
to carefully plan the purchase of livestock when restocking herds
and to ensure that all bovine abortions and premature calvings are
report to Divisional Veterinary Managers.
"There are many factors to be taken into
consideration when buying in stock, but controlling the risk of
introducing disease must be a top priority for farmers," he
said.
Notes for editors
- Brucella abortus has not been isolated from
any premises in Great Britain since October 1993, when it was
linked to imports of cattle from France. Bovine brucellosis was
eradicated from Scotland in the [DN: check ]1970's.
- Brucella abortus is a zoonotic disease causing
abortion in cattle and a variety of clinical syndromes in man.
Bovine brucellosis is a bacterial infection, which can cause recurrent
or chronic fever in humans. Human infection follows the ingestion
of contaminated unpasteurised dairy products or following a direct
contact with infected material, such as blood, urine or vaginal
discharges. It is a known occupational hazard for farm workers
and veterinarians. Person to person transmission is extremely
rare.
- The farm at Angus is a mixed beef and sheep
enterprise which does not sell milk. Any risk to humans is through
contact with infected discharges.
- Article 10 of the Brucellosis (England) Order
2000 requires all cattle farmers to report abortions and premature
calving to the local Animal Health Office. Similar legislation
is in place for Scotland and Wales.
- All cattle herds in GB are subject to routine
surveillance for brucellosis. Beef herds are blood sampled every
two years. Dairy cattle are monitored through regular milk testing.
- The Scottish Executive is the lead authority
for animal health in Scotland. The Scottish Executive press notice
can be accessed at www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/today.aspx
Further information on brucellosis, including a copy of a leaflet
issued to farmers in Autumn 2001 can also be found on the Defra
website at
www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/brucellosis.htm
- EC Directive 64/432/EEC provides for control
measures in the country of export to prevent the export of brucellosis
infected animals. The breakdown in Scotland is being reported
to the veterinary authorities in the ROI and the European Commission.
The CVO has informed the EU by letter.
Public Enquiries: 08459 335577
Press Notices available via Defra website
http://www.defra.gov.uk
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