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What
a difference six years makes. The United Kingdom experienced a
devastating outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in 2001. It not
only devastated agriculture, but also tourism in Great Britain during
the spring and summer of 2001. The outbreak saw 2,000 cases of FMD and
the destruction of over 6 million animals. There were even about 80
farmers who committed suicide because of the loss of their farms as a
result of the disease. So you can imagine how it must have felt to the
U.K. farmers when back in early August, the reports came out there was a
new outbreak of the disease that had previously ravaged agriculture.
On
August 2, clinical signs consistent with FMD were reported on a farm in
Normandy, Surrey. The next day the samples were confirmed to be positive
for FMD. At that point, "lessons learned" from the 2001
outbreak kicked in. It was agreed one of the biggest problems with the
2001 outbreak was they did not move quickly enough early on. First, a
protection zone was established around the first positive farm. On
August 3, another herd, also located near Elstead, had one cow test
positive for the virus. As a standard precaution, both herds were
slaughtered on August 4. This also prompted another protection zone to
be established. Finally, on August 7, another herd showing signs
consistent with FMD was slaughtered because it was strongly suspected it
would be positive. The next day it was confirmed the right decision was
made. That herd was within one of the already established protection
zones.
In
addition to establishing the protection zones (1.9 mile radius) around
the positive farms, they also established surveillance zones, which are
a further 6.2 miles outside the protection zones. The protection zone is
an area of strictest biosecurity and quarantine. The surveillance zone
is a step up from the protection zone, with continued emphasis on
quarantine, cleaning and disinfecting. Another wise precautionary step
taken upon the confirmation of the virus was to place a nation-wide ban
on movement of all susceptible livestock.
Response
to the 2001 outbreak lacked the rapid decision and action to slaughter
positive animals. Therefore, the virus continued to replicate in sick
animals for several days until the decision was made to put down the
infected animals.
On
August 4, two days after the first clinical signs were reported, the
strain of the virus was identified as one that was being used in a
nearby laboratory, where research on the virus and vaccines were being
made. The particular strain of the FMD virus was not only one the
laboratory was working with, but had not been found in animals since a
U.K. outbreak in 1967. Fortunately, if indeed the virus was one being
used for vaccine, it would likely be less virulent than the field strain
of the virus.
As
this article is being written, the outbreak is apparently not over yet.
On September 12, a new case was confirmed 30 miles from the original
farm. On Saturday, September 29, animal health officials were
slaughtering cattle from a farm where the eighth case was confirmed. The
cases have tended to remain mostly in the restricted zones. By the time
you read this, hopefully, the disease outbreak will be over; however, it
is a very contagious and unpredictable disease.
Just
as a brief reminder, here are a few facts about FMD. It is a highly
contagious viral disease that only affects split-hooved animals — yes,
that does include deer. It is characterized by fever, lameness and the
formation of vesicles (blisters) on the lips, muzzle, nose, oral cavity,
teats, and between the toes and around the coronary band. It is an
extremely painful disease that causes animals to go off feed, become
lame and experience a severe loss in milk production. The last outbreak
we had in the United States was in 1929. We must continue to be vigilant
about this and other foreign animal diseases. If you have questions
about foot and mouth disease, please call this office or discuss them
with your local veterinarian. |
