FMD outbreak in Libya
Mary Marshall
European Livestock Alliance
(Filed 18 July 03)
www.land-care.org.uk
I would like to draw attention to the debate
on 15 July 2003 in the House of Lords on the FMD outbreak in Libya
(Hansard transcript is copied below). We should all be grateful
to Lord Plumb and the other members of the House of Lords for asking
these important questions and for seeking answers with regard to
the potential threat to the UK and to other EU member countries.
May I suggest for your consideration, some points
arising from this debate?
It is puzzling that Lord Whitty should
begin by saying that
“We are satisfied that the existing
plans and precautions are sufficient for the relatively low
threat from Libya.”
Yet, on further questioning Lord Whitty
admitted that
“In terms of the strain of the
disease, the virus in Libya is SAT 2 which has never been recorded
in North Africa previously.”
Is he aware that “SAT 2 is of concern
because as a serotype it has a reputation for being highly contagious
and antigenically diverse” (1)?
Since, as Lord Whitty says, this serotype
“has never been recorded in North Africa”, let alone in
Europe, it “may have implications in the epidemiology and clinical
picture of the disease” (2).
Does this not increase the potential risk
that it may arrive here and spread undetected? Lord Whitty has not
adequately answered Lord Plumb’s question: “Will extra
surveillance be instituted and targeted where risks are highest?”
I suggest that it is now time for an informed
debate on what surveillance strategy would be most effective. The
risks that widespread testing, e.g. using portable rapid diagnostic
tests and testing milk at collection, could close down the UK with
false positives must be set against considering that “the cost
of 3-7 days national stoppage cannot be more than the cost of that
number of days of free movement by viraemic animals" (3).
Reports of the situation in Libya are particularly
worrying and require reassurance from Lord Whitty that effective
controls in Libya and in neighbouring countries, are, indeed, in
place: “The crucial question is, whether the virus -- which
had penetrated into Libya (from where?) at least 8 weeks before
its first reporting to the OIE, on 18 Jun 2003 -- is present also
in the large populations of sheep and goats” (ProMED moderator,
5 July 2003).
“According to FAO statistics, the animal
population of Libya includes 152000 bovines, 6.4 million ovines
and 2.2 million caprines. Preventing the introduction of the SAT
2 virus into small ruminants, which may become subsequently virus
carriers for an unpredictable period (theoretically, up to several
months), will need significant efforts”
(ProMED moderator, 28 June 2003)
“We recognize the possibility that a different strain
from the vaccine strain may circulate anywhere that FMD occurs,
but in Libya, this is no longer just a possibility. In all probability,
the animals in the country are not protected. Very rigorous disease
and movement controls will be needed to keep ahead of this fast
moving disease”
(ProMED moderator, 21 June 2003)
I would ask Lord Whitty two questions:
- 1. Will the government seek assurance
from Libya that they are being assisted by the bodies whose mandate
and expertise is in emergency control (FAO/IAEA, OIE), so that
we can be assured that sufficient samples are sent to the World
Reference Laboratory at Pirbright for testing? In addition to
the samples from cattle which have been sent to Pirbright, this
should include samples from sheep and goats, because of the added
difficulties in control if infection has spread to nomadic herds.
What control measures does Libya have in place? Preventive vaccination?
- 2. What
surveillance and preventive measures have been taken by other
countries in the region, and especially Tunisia which is directly
threatened since it borders the infected zone? Have they requested
these international bodies to assist them for rapid confirmation
of infection?
Is Lord Whitty aware that there are currently
FMD SAT outbreaks also in Malawi and Zimbabwe, and of FMD in Paraguay
and Bolivia, countries which are also not so far away to zones exporting
to Europe? In Paraguay, worryingly, we read of “The reported
identification of a simultaneous field infection with 2 serotypes”
(ProMED moderator, 15 July 2003, where it should be noted that the
moderator has recommended obtaining confirmation by the reference
lab).
Lord Whitty says that "we have sufficient
vaccine to deal with an outbreak of this strain. Clearly, more will
be produced, but that is not to say that every strain of foot and
mouth disease is covered by vaccine stocks in Britain or Europe."
How can he be sure that we have sufficient vaccine?
With regard to vaccine matching, "the virus is related to others
for which vaccines are available. SAT2 vaccine reserves are kept
but whether or not in sufficient amounts, depends on what circumstances
arise" (1).
Clearly, the question of vaccine sufficiency will
depend on the circumstances of the entry and the spread of the virus
before detection and before movement controls are in place (and
thereafter on effectiveness of such controls, e.g. biosecurity).
To say now that vaccine is sufficient suggests that Defra have modelled
the distribution of size of outbreaks and populations to be vaccinated.
Has this been done?
I suggest that this current threat needs increased
attention, and collaboration from and with all sectors.
Consider this warning:
“The situation in the Middle East and in
North Africa constitutes a threat to other regions of the world,
especially Europe“
H A Aidaros, the CVO of Egypt, (4)
And this reminder also from Dr Aidaros(4):
“An FMD outbreak caused by type O occurred in North Africa
in February 1999. The disease was first reported in Algeria where
it spread rapidly from the east to the west of the country. Isolated
outbreaks of the disease also occurred in Tunisia and Morocco.”
Have we done all we can to prevent the spread
of this SAT 2 outbreak?
If we haven't, are we really prepared?
Mary Marshall
Animal Health Policy Coordinator
European Livestock Alliance
16 July 2003
Referecnes
1. Personal Email from David Paton
IAH at Pirbright 15th July 2003.
2. Roger, Paul 92003). Letter
to Vet Record 7th July 2003.
3. Personal Email from Prof Martin
Hugh-Jones. 6th Narch 2003.
4. Aidaros, H A (2002). in
"Regional status and approach to control and eradication of
foot and mouth disease in the Middle East and North Africa"
Rev. Sci. tech. Off. Int. Epiz.: vol 21 (3), 451-458).
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