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Where, oh where, are the
rapid diagnostic tests for live FMD virus
in livestock on farm?
James Irvine
Teviot Scientific, Cultybraggan Farm, Comrie,
Perthshire
Filed 07 Aug 07
©www.land-care.org.uk
So we sit and wait, and wait some more, for the
results of tests done on a second clinically suspected outbreak
of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in cattle close to the initial outbreak
(and within the current Protective Zone) that was officially recognised
last Friday - 5 days ago. The authorities congratulate themselves
that the second outbreak is still within the surveillance zone.
But what is going on here?
There are tests available - available at least
in other countries - that will detect live FMD virus in live sheep
and cattle, close to the farm, in a matter of a few hours. What
has happened to these tests in this crisis? Are they still not "validated"?
Have they still not been given a licence by the UK authorities?
And if not, why not?
In this instance the tests do not even need to
be done at the farm gate: the "internationally acclaimed"
reference laboratory is right next door.
Such rapid tests for live FMD virus should be
playing an absolutely key role in this outbreak Rather than waiting
to see if further clinically suspect cases arise, why not get in
there and test flocks and herds that are at risk for live virus?
This highly contagious disease has an incubation period of about
7 days. Live virus can be detected in the animals during that key
incubation period, when the virus is being shed to spread to other
livestock and to wildlife - such as deer, especially the roe deer
that are in the area.
Valuable time is being lost. Vaccination is a
very important tool in preventing spread, in interupting transmission
of disease. The earlier it is used the better.
The precise type of FMD virus involved is known:
01 BFS567 (or is it BFS1860?). It is even understood - but we are
not actually told - that there is a stockpile of vaccine for that
very type held by the company who make it, Merial, right next door.
We are told that 300,000 doses have been ordered, but we are not
told when it will actually be available.
What on earth are the authorities waiting for?
The obvious strategy would be to put a protective barrier around
the area by vaccinating with the specific vaccine, starting from
a distance out and working in.
The livestock farmers themselves are perfectly
capable of vaccinating their own cattle. They could do it quickly,
efficiently and with far less stress to the animals. If you want
to maintain an animal's resistance to infection you should keep
stress to a minimum. Vaccination is a common task on almost every
livestock farm, as part of good animal husbandry. Why wait five
days while some poorly trained, expensive officials - i.e. vet students
- can get to the job?
Hiliary Benn, the Environment and Rural Affairs
Minister for England, should be putting the above into immediate
effect, or explaining why it cannot be done. Instead. he simply
repeats platitudes about "the importance of containment".
Well man, get on and contain it.
Apply the science and argue with the EU
afterwards. This time round, there would be few livestock farmers
who would disagree with that.
©www.land-care.org.uk
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