Bovine Tuberculosis Update

UK - A total of 5,215 British cattle herds out of teh 90,381 registered on Vetnet in the UK were under Bovine Tuberculosis restrictions during teh first 10 months of the year, according to figures just relesease by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

24 December 2007

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Europe

More than nearly 41,300 herds have been tested for bTB in up to October and the number of new incidents of the disease have been recorded at 2,882.

The National Beef Association reports that the country is now in a stable disease situation with no new cases in the last two of weeks. Howvere, it said that on 1 December a consignment of cows were imported from Germany to the Middlesbrough area in England and one was found positive for BTV 8 by PCR and blood test on 12 December.

"This animal was slaughtered on December 14 to stop the potential spread of the virus to the midge population. Restrictions have been placed on the farm and a full epidemiology study is underway. In accordance with the BTV strategy as there was no evidence that virus was circulating in the midge population in this area, (no other cases have been found), control zones have not been set up," the NBA said.

"Importers must be very cautious when importing animals from high risk BTV areas because of the risk it poses to the whole industry. Animals which are found to be BTV 8 positive on arrival will be slaughtered with no remuneration."

The NBA said that teh plan for this winter is to contain the disease in south/south east England.

"We are now moving towards a ~vector free period~ (VFP) or low transmission period and a review of the BTV control policy, taking into consideration the huge economic implications for the industry and the likely arrival of vaccine is underway because the efforts to contain the disease may be disproportionate to the economic impacts," said the NBA.

"Based on historical data a VFP should occur between January and March and this provides an opportunity for movements. We are still in phase one of the BTV 8 outbreak so restrictions must remain, but will be under constant review because of the hardships caused by the zones."