Bluetongue and FMD Update - 28th Sept 07

Bluetongue - General Situation am 28 Sept 2007

The BTV Control Strategy was published in August. Government and industry are working together and a Core Group has been formed by DEFRA to work with them.

BTV(8) has been confirmed in individual animals in East Anglia. This does not make us a BTV country as virus has to be shown to be circulating before the CVO makes that decision, this decision could be taken anytime. It takes a minimum of 2 years to achieve Free Status officialy once infection is found to be circulating.

The Control Strategy in phase 1 attempts to eradicate the virus before it circulates by destroying the infected animals and imposing movement restrictions. As movement restrictions have been in place in England since mid August there is a possibility that the virus is limited to a few animals in East Anglia and has not had the opportunity to spread. This side effect of FMD controls should not be lost so Phase 1 of the Control Stategy is being vigorously executed. The detail of the policy is under daily review and there is no time line yet to show when it will be known that the virus is or is not circulating.

There is no vaccine for BTV 8 yet and one is not expected this year or early next year. The economic effect of the virus on livestock in N Europe this summer is reported to be more severe with much higher mortality rates, though there are no official figures to support this.

If BTV is declared, then a region / zones are created around the infection and movement controls put in place.

NBA policy at this stage is that effort should continue to be made to contain the virus this autumn / winter so that a limited area is effected by the expected explosion of virus in the 2008 midge season. This allows more time for developement of vaccine and scientific knowledge. Those that are in the zone must be made as comfortable as possible with as much freedom to continue their business as possible. The EU rules for moving animals out of zones to live is under review. The virus does effect fertiility as well as causing mortality in some animals. This again is a rapidly changing situation and we will endeavour to keep you informed with reliable information.

FMD

The Risk. Area established around the SZ was put in place to allow the licensed movement of animals in the Low risk area. It is a tool to facilitate movement. It does NOT mean that a policy of Regionalisation has been adopted. Regionalisation is not a prefered route for exit. Tracing is well advanced, the risk area and movement licences are under constant review. The Epidemiology Report shows that IP5 had been infected for some considerable time. There could therefore be another unreported IP in the area. Good biosecurity and vigilance remain very very important. It is being suggested that it is not very easy even for experienced stockment o spot the virus in cattle in some instances.

Hopefully the licence problems from early in the week have resolved, if you are having problems please email Helen including your telephone no and she will pass pass them on.

Duff Burrell

NBA Chairman