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Funding to prevent bluetongue spread
09/04/2008
12 million doses of bluetongue vaccine are to be secured to protect Scotland against the spread of disease, it was agreed today.
Subject to disease developments, a compulsory vaccination programme could be in place this winter.
Offering unprecedented support to the industry, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead agreed to:
- order 12 million doses of the vaccine
- pay 50 per cent of the cost from the manufacturer up to a maximum of £3 million
- and monitor against non-compliance
Mr Lochhead said:
"This is an excellent example of the Scottish Government working in partnership with the industry to address the risk of bluetongue.
"The livestock sector has identified this disease as the biggest threat to the industry at present. Scotland is free from bluetongue and we want to keep it this way.
"Unanimous agreement was reached to accept this support as one-off first year support to farmers who will pay 50 per cent of costs this year and full costs in subsequent years.
"This is the right solution for Scotland. The programme will deliver effective disease control whilst at the same time meeting the needs of the industry.
"We have balanced the significant potential costs of disease should bluetongue arrive in Scotland with the cost of effective controls. This pro-active approach will enhance our reputation of operating the highest quality standards of animal welfare in producing top quality products."
Jim McLaren, President of NFUScotland, said:
"We are delighted that the Cabinet Secretary, on behalf of the Scottish Government, has recognised the seriousness of the threat of this disease to Scotland's livestock industry.
"It is essential that the vaccine is ordered immediately in order that the industry is protected from any potential bluetongue incursions this summer.
"Of equal importance is the compulsory nature of any vaccination programme as this will help to assure the 80 per cent plus coverage required for any programme to be successful is reached."
Vaccine procurement is being supported by government in the first year to ensure maximum vaccination of all susceptible animals. Farmers will be required by law to vaccinate against bluetongue annually for a subsequent three years minimum or until the threat of the virus diminishes.
To maximise the effectiveness of a vaccination programme 80 per cent of all susceptible animals must be vaccinated. Full details of the vaccination programme will be developed with the livestock industry.
Farmers failing to vaccinate will face fines up to £5,000 and/or six months in jail.
Farmers will be expected to notify the Scottish Government when they have vaccinated their animals. A proportion of vaccinated animals will be tested to ensure that vaccination has been undertaken.
The Bluetongue (Scotland) Order 2006 will be amended to set out the legal requirements of the compulsory vaccination programme.
Bluetongue is a notifiable midge-borne viral disease which can infect all ruminants, such as cattle, goat, deer and, in particular, sheep. It is different from many other diseases in that disease is confirmed only when there is evidence of it circulating in the midge population, rather than when a single infected animal is identified and the disease can be spread by vector movements in addition to animal movements. It can only be transmitted by the bite of certain species of midge.
Clinical signs in sheep can include: fever; swelling of the head and neck; inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membrane of the mouth, nose and eyelids; lameness; muscle degeneration and blood/serum leaking from blood vessels into surrounding tissue; haemorrhages in the skin and other tissues; respiratory signs such as froth in the lungs and an inability to swallow and discolouration and swelling of the tongue. Although bluetongue usually causes no apparent illness in cattle or goats, cattle are displaying clinical signs during the current outbreak in Northern Europe, including: nasal discharge; swelling and ulceration of the mouth and swollen teats.
Bluetongue is a disease of ruminant animals, and it does not affect humans. There are no public health implications.