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Suspected FMD at Huntly, AberdeenshireDr James Irvine FRSE DSc FRCPath FRCPEd FInstBiol
The following is a statement issued by SEERAD on its website:
A number of suspected cases of FMD are bound to arise on account of the fact that blisters in the mouth may result from several causes: i.e. there is a differential diagnosis to consider, including simple trauma. Clearly there is also an element of the veterinary authorities making sure that they are not caught out by missing a case. It is important for all concerned that movement restrictions and the fear of FMD be time limited as efficiently as possible. It sounds somewhat archaic that even at the end of November/beginning of December 2002 the authorities are still working on the old test system whereby it takes 4 days before a diagnosis of FMD can be confidently ruled out. How long will it take for the UK veterinary services to apply modern science and get a definitive yes or no for FMD in a much shorter time? It is easy enough for the Veterinary authorities to bang on restriction of movement orders as they do not suffer the economic consequences and their backs are covered. No doubt the State Veterinary Service will say they are waiting for “validation” of the “new” diagnostic tests. That has been their excuse now for a very long time although the relevant science has been there for years. It all rather smells of bureaucratic muddle. One has to wonder who is getting round to do this so-called “validation”. It always seems to be someone else’s problem, while the authorities in the UK (and I daresay in Europe generally) carry on in the same old way apparently indefinitely. © Teviot Scientific Consultancy
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