SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT INDUSTRY - BLUETONGUE STAKEHOLDER GROUP STATEMENT -
16 SEPTEMBER 2008
On 16 September 2008, in light of the current disease situation the Scottish Government Industry Bluetongue Stakeholder Group agreed that:
1. Recent developments, including the bluetongue positive import to the North of England, represent an increased disease risk to Scotland. This highlights the importance of avoiding sourcing stock from high risk areas.
3. If disease is confirmed before the vector free period, any protection zone should be kept as small as possible to reduce the risk of disease spread. Any Surveillance Zone declared will probably be all-Scotland to allow free movement of animals within Scotland. Any final decision on bluetongue zones would be taken based on the precise situation at the time.
4. Given the disease risk to Scotland and the movement implications arising from a case in Northern England, the group decided that Scotland will commence a compulsory vaccination programme this year. This will start not before 1 November 2008 and will end no later than 30 April 2009. At this time the whole of Scotland will become a Protection Zone and all parts of Scotland will be able to vaccinate simultaneously.
5. The vaccination programme will be delivered as set out in the agreed Vaccination Plan. The key elements are compulsion for sheep and cattle; farmer administration unless moving to a free area; and first year vaccination to be completed during the specified window.