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Emerging worries about UK FMD 2007
James Irvine
Teviot Scientific, Cultybraggan Farm, Comrie,
Perthshire
Filed 04 Aug 07
©www.land-care.org.uk
Contrary to what was reported by the BBC and subsequently
on this website (1), it transpires
that official vets have discovered sheep on the FMD affected farm
near Guilford, just a few miles from the Institute of Animal Health
Laboratories at Pirbright and at Compton where FMD virus research
and testing are done.
It is much more difficult to clinically spot FMD
in sheep than it is in cattle. There may also be problems in relation
to what grazing arrangements may have been taking place recently,
and if they were properly recorded.
Apparently there are many small farms in the area
with small numbers of stock being moved to graze leisure fields.
This could complicate the task of tracing where the FMD virus came
from, as some of those beasts may have been moved without proper
movement records. It also raises potential problems of the public
possibly contributing to the spread of disease, if some of the fields
are used both by sheep and for the recreation of the public. Where
did members of the public go after being on these fields?
It may only be coincidence, but the area also
contains a large MOD Camp at Aldershot. As mentioned in this website's
earlier article on the new outbreak, there has been much concern
generally about the quality assurance standards of beef imported
from South America, where FMD is only intermittently under control.
There has been a long battle fought by the beef industry for such
imports to be stopped, and for UK public bodies to buy British beef
to feed its employees.
It sounds as though we will have to be very lucky
if the new outbreak of FMD can be controlled simply by slaughtering
the animals on the affected farm. I for one would very much like
to hear what the authorities have in mind in terms of vaccination.
They should most certainly be talking positively about that possibility
and preparing the public and the industry for it happening and for
the potential consequences of using vaccination in terms of EU legislation
that is not always rational. Please do not wait to have this proactive
discussion. Arguing about it when the need for vaccination has become
all too obvious, is seriously counterproductive.
Hopefully, on this occasion the authorities will
advise sensibly on disinfectant measures. In UK FMD 2001, large
sums of money were wasted on excessively expensive, and largely
useless, methods of disinfection.
There must also be the further worry that the
UK authorities may not take up an offer of help from the Americans.
Or they may not even get around to asking for help. It is understood
that the Americans have been doing much research on FMD on the basis
that it may be used as an instrument of terrorism. The UK Government
stupidly turned down the offer of help from the USA in 2001. They
should not repeat that mistake.
The livestock farming community has to thank its
representative bodies, such as the National Beef Association and
the NFU, for insisting that the costs of animal health and welfare
policies are not shared with the industry until such time as the
industry has a significant say in what these policies are.
©www.land-care.org.uk
References
1. Irvine, james (2007). Another
outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease confirmed in the UK:
is it going to be handled better than in 2001?
See FMD Homepage, filed 04 Aug 07, www.land-care.org.uk
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