Foot and Mouth disease was confirmed on a beef fattening unit in Surrey on 3rd August 2007. Protection and Surveillance Zones were declared around the infected premises, and all livestock on the holding were culled and their carcases incinerated. Since then there has been another confirmed outbreak on a second holding within the original Protection Zone. Consequentially, the animals on this holding were also slaughtered.

Scottish movement restrictions have been lifted for animals moving directly to slaughter under strictly controlled conditions. From 00.01am on the 9th August 2007, movement restrictions in England and Wales were lifted, allowing animals to move directly to slaughter under general license. Animals can only be sent to abattoirs that have met certain conditions and been approved by the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS). A list of approved abattoirs has been published on Defra’s website and will be regularly updated.

On the 10th August 2007, a general license was put in place so that movements direct to slaughter no longer have border restrictions between England and Scotland.

It is essential we are more vigilant than ever. We should not see the lifting of movement restrictions directly to slaughter as a relaxation. Great Britain is involved in an emerging disease situation which is subject to change. Farmers must behave responsibly.

Farmers are responsible for making sure livestock are hauled in disinfected lorries and that protective clothing is worn. If they are unsatisfied with the condition of a vehicle, it is their responsibility to turn it away. Livestock must travel with their normal documentation requirements. The farmer must pre-book a timeslot with the abattoir. No multiple pick-ups will be allowed. Animals do not require veterinary inspection before being sent for slaughter. However, they will be inspected as soon as they arrive at the abattoir.

All livestock movements are still prohibited within the Protection and Surveillance Zones. Animals cannot be moved in or out of the Zones and abattoirs within the Zones will remain closed. Vehicles carrying livestock from outside the Protection and Surveillance Zones may travel through the Surveillance Zone, but the vehicle is not permitted to stop. However, there is now a general license in place to allow the transport of raw milk out the Surveillance Zone.

On the 10th August 2007, a general license was put in place to allow the movement of fodder to premises in the Protection Zone as long as it originates from outside the Surveillance Zone.

If it is essential to take livestock across a public road in order to milk them or for veterinary treatment, then a general license exists which can be accessed at:
(http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/pdf/milkinglicence-070805.pdf)

Animal welfare is obviously a key issue. To date, it is not clear when movement restrictions will be lifted. Farmers with live casualties should contact their vet to put the animal down. From 00.01am on 9th August 2007, farmers in England will be able to arrange for the removal of carcases of FMD susceptible animals under the National Fallen Stock Scheme if they are members of the NFSCo (www.nfsco.co.uk). Wales has already proceeded with the resumption of fallen stock collections. In Scotland, the ban on the disposal of fallen stock by burial on site has temporarily been lifted.

In addition, from 10th August 2007, burial of animals on the farm where they died will be permitted within the Protection and Surveillance zones.

On 11th August 2007, the Welsh Assembly announced that under existing general license arrangements, welfare movements to accommodate the needs of newly weaned animals, pregnant sows, pregnant cows, animals for breeding and animals with feeding difficulties as a result of severe shortage of grazing, as long as they are not moved more than 1 kilometre.

The Welsh Assembly also announced farmers who consider that their animals are suffering from acute welfare issues, other than those stated above, can contact their Animal Health Office to apply for a license for approval to move their animals subject to a veterinary inspection agreeing to the move. Full details can be found at

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/
ahw/disease_surveillance_control/foot_and_mouth_disease/?lang=en

The strain of the disease which infected both the Surrey farms was isolated originally in the 1967 outbreak. The strain is believed to have been used at the local Pirbright laboratory for research into a vaccination. It is hoped that because the virus identified is not a ‘wild strain’ it may be less virulent and will not spread as readily as the strain in the 2001 outbreak.

The Institute of Animal Health’s Pirbright Facility and animal health company Merial have been implicated as the potential source of the outbreak. A Protection Zone has been put in place around the Pirbright site as a precaution. The Health and Safety Executives initial investigations into potential breaches at the Pirbright site indicate that it is a real possibility the disease was released by human movements. Investigations continue.

It is hoped that the prompt disease control measures activated by Defra will minimise the spread of the disease and help avoid the catastrophic experience of 2001. However, it is essential all farms adopt strict biosecurity practises and familiarise themselves with the symptoms of the disease.

For the latest information on the outbreak, please click on the link below.

www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/