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STAKEHOLDERS' MEETING - 21 SEPTEMBER 2007
FMD Virus
This virus can cause devastating outbreaks of disease. The virus can survive weeks in the environment and can be transmitted between animals by vehicles, people and equipment and by aerosol on the wind.
One undetected case of disease which moves onto other premises could seed infection in a totally new area. Animal gatherings present a huge risk as they bring together animals, vehicles and people from multiple origins and then disperse them to multiple destinations.
Cleansing and disinfection and strict biosecurity can mitigate some of the risks of disease spread but movement controls are the most effective method of controlling the disease.
What we know | What we don't know |
|---|
Still only 5 infected premises Virus probably escaped from one of the labs on the Pirbright site most likely between 22-25 July The strain of virus is the same in all cases, IP2 was infected by virus from IP1 IP4 had older lesions than IP3 It is only two days since the last IP was confirmed. | How the virus got to IP4 from IP2 If IP5 pre-dates IP4 Whether there are any undiscovered infected farms in SZ until clinical inspections and serosurveillance are completed We know that not all animal movements are recorded. |
The movements of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs are recorded in central databases. | There are no central records of the movement of people, machinery or equipment between farms. |
No direct movements of sheep, goats or pigs from within 50 km of Pirbright since 15 July. Three batches of cattle moved directly to Scotland from within 50 km area - all destination farms checked and cleared. At least 23 farms in Scotland were known to have had indirect contacts with 50 km area by movements between 15 July and 31 August - 21 farms checked and cleared so far | We have not yet received the analysis of indirect movements between 1 September and present. We do not know how many people and vehicles from Surrey will be in Scotland for the shooting season. (Grouse, partridges, stags) |
Comparative risks associated with movements in order
Island farm to mainland | Animals come from a disease free area, very low risk |
Farm to collection centre for slaughter | Slight risk of spread at collection centre but controlled by C&D before return home |
Within one farm business over short distance | Very little additional risk because same staff and vehicles involved and C&D reduces risk |
Within one farm business over longer distance | Risk of spread to new area but slight additional risk because it involves same farm staff and C&D reduces risk |
Single farm to farm | Risk of disease spread but only to one new farm, but could spread disease to new area |
Island farms to collection centre used by farmers | Risk of spread at collection centre but reduced by C&D before return home |
Multiple pickups or drop offs | Risk of disease spreading to at least one or all farms in the chain of pickups or drop offs |
Markets | Major risk of spreading disease to all farms receiving animals out of market - "starburst effect" |
Export trade
The Scottish livestock industry exports significant quantities of animal products and live animals particularly to continental Europe. Regaining these markets is an essential part of our strategy. To achieve the resumption of exports we must be seen to implement EU requirements as well as sensible and proportionate disease control measures. There is currently an EU Food and Veterinary Office audit mission in the UK examining our actions to date. The inspectors report will inform future EU decisions.
Licences - comparisons
August | September |
|---|
Day 0 (3 August) | Day 0 (12 September) cows for milking emergency welfare gatherings to premises of owner laboratory rodents emergency veterinary treatment direct to slaughter by-products |
Day 1 (4 August) cows for milking | Day 1 (13 September) laboratory rodents (amendment) - exports deer carcasses emergency treatment (amendment) - TB fallen stock |
| Day 2 (14 September) fallen stock (amendment) - multiple pick ups carcasses to a laboratory diagnostic samples notice of permission for AI/ ET |
Day 3 (6 August) emergency veterinary treatment | Day 3 (15 September) islands to single premises on mainland |
Day 4 (7 August) notice of permission for AI/ ET | Day 4 (16 September) collection centres direct to slaughter - multiple pick up of pigs |
Day 5 (8 August) by-products | Day 5 (17 September) OCDS to slaughter by-products (amendment) - multiple pick ups |
Day 7 (10 August) direct to slaughter deer carcasses emergency welfare diagnostic samples fallen stock | |
Day 8 (11 August) laboratory rodents | Day 8 (20 September) within farm business moves (8 km) welfare movement for pigs |
Day 9 (12 August) inter-island specific licence - acute welfare | |
Day 11 (14 August) deer carcasses (amendment) - inc. biosecurity emergency welfare (amendment) - inc. bio. | |
Day 13 (16 August) welfare movement for pigs OCDS to slaughter specific licence - gut content etc. laboratory rodents (amendment) - exports | |
Day 14 (17 August) within farm business moves (8km) by-products (amendment) - multiple pick ups | |
Day 15 (18 August) islands to single premises on mainland | |
Day 18 (21 August) recorders, trimmers etc fallen stock (amendment) - hides and skins | |
Day 19 (22 August) collection centres direct to slaughter - multiple pick up of pigs carcasses to laboratory | |
Veterinary Division
Rural Directorate
Scottish Government
21 September 2007
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