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Bluetongue UpdateBluetongue
Core Group
- December 2009 We would like to take this opportunity to update you on the work we have been doing with Defra since our last stakeholder update in August 2009. Current Situation · Defra now have the results of the Bluetongue winter surveillance which shows all samples were negative for all BTV serotypes. · The survey, conducted during November, tested for all serotypes of Bluetongue and covered the whole of GB. More intensive testing was carried out in the South and East of England where disease was first discovered in 2007 and where there is a greater risk of infection from continental Europe. · We would like to thanks those who participated in the survey. All participants will be individually notified in the coming weeks but we understand the VLA have confirmed that all animals tested were negative for all serotypes. The full report will be published on the Defra website early next year. · The disease situation in the continental Europe has also improved, however there have been some further cases of BTV in Europe this year. France had cases of both BTV1 and BTV8, including cases of BTV8 on the coast of France. Met Office modelling suggests that there were (some limited) occasions where the circumstances would have been right for infected midges to have blown across the Channel into England. We continue to monitor the risk closely and will alert farmers to any change in reported disease in continental Europe. · The whole of GB remains in a Protection Zone for BTV8 which means that moves are permitted from other BTV8 zones in Continental Europe, and that a domestic BTV8 positive animal found here would be allowed to live and to move freely across Great Britain. · It is important that all livestock farmers remain vigilant. There has been a fall in report cases in 2009 compared to 2008. Reporting of suspect cases from vets and livestock keepers continues to play a vital role in surveillance, and it is a legal requirement to report any suspicion of a notifiable disease. Even if you have vaccinated against BTV8, there is the potential for infection from another serotype. · Vaccination played a key role in keeping us free from circulating disease in 2008/09 and will provide the greatest security against loss should there be a resurgence of Bluetongue next year. JAB continue to encourage livestock keepers to vaccinate and take the advice of their vet when making vaccination decisions. · For cattle in particular it takes six weeks and two doses to build immunity from scratch. So it is especially important to boost now to avoid the animals losing immunity and having to face the added cost of vaccinating twice next year in the face of a potential threat. · We urge industry to source livestock responsibly. During 2009 over 11,000 bluetongue susceptible animals have been imported from Continental Europe, predominately from Germany and the Netherlands. The majority of these have been double post-import tested, with no confirmed positive results so far. When importing a pregnant animal you should also be certain that it has met the necessary import requirements and that the animal had immunity to BT before becoming pregnant. · From 2nd November we revised our post-import testing policy in line with advice from experts and during the winter months when vectors are less active all imported animals will be tested once, 5-7 days after import. We will review this policy again in Spring 2010. · The England policy, as outlined in the Control Strategy, is to take proportionate action against imported animals infected with serotypes of bluetongue. Any new cases will be considered on a case by case basis, taking into account factors such as time of year, levels of infection in the animals and evidence from epidemiological investigations. Forward look · Defra will review its post import testing policy again early in 2010. · We continue our work with VMD and vaccine manufacturers to have BTV1 vaccine authorised for the UK as part of our preparedness work. One vaccine has already gained approval for use in sheep should the need arise here. Bivalent vaccine for BTV1 and BTV8 is not yet authorised in the UK. However, livestock keepers are reminded that vaccination against BTV1 is currently illegal in the UK. · Defra continues to feed into discussions with the European Commission on the reform of the European Bluetongue Directive. These are just preliminary considerations and we will ensure that industry are able to contribute to how the Directive might change. · In the longer term, we will be considering if it might be possible to consider lifting the BTV8 protection zone in a few years time. Under EU legislation we are required to provide evidence of no disease circulation for a minimum of 2 years before we are able to declare freedom from disease. We would also need to be reassured that disease was not likely to come back from continental Europe as we would not be allowed to vaccinate to protect our livestock if we remove the PZ (vaccination is not allowed outside of a zone). We hope that you have found this update useful, please feel free to share this information with your members as appropriate. We will continue to work alongside Defra to ensure industry views are taken into account in policy development and delivery, and keep industry fully aware of future developments on Bluetongue to make sure that we are fully prepared for any future outbreak scenarios. |
latest newsFemales in demand but selective trade for bulls at Chelford summer sale [report] Cogent expands its beef team with new appointment The offering for the Wilde About Blues Part 5 production sale certainly did not disappoint as breeders and enthusiasts filled the ringside on Friday 11th June at Carlisle. [report] British Blue bulls peak at 16,000gns British Blue breeders enjoyed a bumper days trading at the Border British Blue Club’s Twentieth Annual Spring Show & Sale at Carlisle on Saturday 15 May. [report] Moira Sale The Pedigree Sales Arena at Moira was alive with keen interest on Saturday 27th March for the Northern Ireland Blue Cattle Club’s spring export sale. [more] Chelford Sale A quality entry, together with continued strong demand for British Blue cattle, attracted another huge crowd to Chelford Agricultural Centre, on Saturday 6th March. [report]
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