AHVLA seeks to improve disease surveillance
A new system of detecting and understanding animal disease outbreaks in England and Wales has been proposed in a new consultation.
AHVLA is seeking views from vets, farmers and other interested parties on options for improving the veterinary scanning surveillance system.
The proposals set out in the consultation are designed to:
• Increase the geographical coverage of animal disease surveillance by offering an enhanced carcass collection service
• Improve the use of expertise and data about animal-related threats within the private sector
• Reduce the number of AHVLA surveillance sites to ensure remaining sites have access to a greater and wider range of cases
• Make greater use of post mortems and testing by private vets and universities
Post mortems carried out by AHVLA that are not directly linked to scanning surveillance – such as PMs for insurance claims – will be charged at full cost.
DEFRA’s chief veterinary officer, Nigel Gibbens, said: “Our veterinary surveillance system has played a key role in helping us to quickly spot and react to emerging animal disease threats, but we are always looking at ways to further improve this system.
“The proposals are based on recommendations by the Surveillance Advisory Group, which suggested ways we can enhance the system by making better use of the skills and resources of the wider veterinary community and making it easier for farmers to access the surveillance services they need.”
Individual veterinarians and livestock keepers can participate in the consultation either through attending one of a series of regional stakeholder meetings or through an online survey published online.
The consultation ends on 15 February 2013.