5:00pm Saturday 20th February 2010
While Bluetongue remains a real threat to the livestock industry, it is vitally important that all livestock farmers remain vigilant for signs of the disease and take steps to vaccinate their livestock, the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Dr. Christianne Glossop said this week. Following outbreaks in South East and South West England during 2008, Britain remains in a BTV8 Protection Zone, which allows animals to move from other BTV8 zones in Continental Europe. If such animals test positive for BTV8 in Wales they may be killed, depending on the circumstances, and no compensation would be paid.
The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Dr. Christianne Glossop, said: “During 2009 over 11,000 susceptible animals were brought into Great Britain from continental Europe, some of which came to Wales, mainly from Germany and the Netherlands. It is certainly worth asking yourself - Is this movement really necessary?
“At this point, we have a clear choice. We do not have to accept Bluetongue as a fact of life in Wales. We can play our part in eradicating it if we all work together, and the key is early vaccination.”
The BTV8 vaccine does not protect against any other strain of Bluetongue. Currently only BTV8 vaccine is approved for use in Great Britain. Work is continuing with vaccine manufacturers to produce an authorised BTV1 and a bivalent BTV1 and 8 vaccine in anticipation of the disease situation changing, warranting it being approved for use here.
Dr. Glossop also encouraged livestock farmers to plan, with their vet, to vaccinate their livestock early before they are turned out for the spring.
Dr. Christianne Glossop added: “If Bluetongue re-emerges in 2010, unvaccinated animals will be at most risk. Immunity takes up to 21 days after the primary course so waiting until the first cases appear in Wales may be too late to protect stock. Animals vaccinated for the first time require annual boosters.
“There is some good news as research from the Institute for Animal Health shows that for lambs born to ewes that have been vaccinated twice against BTV8 (the 2nd being a booster one month before lambing) are protected against BTV8 for at least 14 weeks – the age at which many lambs go for slaughter. “Farmers who took the responsible decision to vaccinate last year will need to re-vaccinate in 2010 to maintain protection of their animals.
“Those who chose to wait, or listened to unfounded negative rumours about the vaccine, should think again about the risk they are taking.”
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