Scientist slams Welsh TB control strategy

A leading scientist has slammed the Welsh government’s badger vaccination policy, saying it will not stop the disease spread to cattle in disease hotspots.

Professor Chris Pollock resigned in April from Wales’ bovine tuberculosis eradication board in protest at the Welsh government’s vaccination policy. He said there was too much uncertainty in the policy for him to support it.

Speaking at the Farmers Union of Wales conference in Aberystwyth on 15 November, Prof Pollock said: “The uncertainties surrounding culling were not sufficient evidence to move to a less effective but politically more acceptable alternative.”

“Under the previous administration, where localised culling was to be implemented as a pilot, it could be argued that Welsh policy development, implementation and monitoring were strongly evidence-based and dealt as effectively as possible with uncertainty.”

Key among Professor Pollock’s concerns were the absence of a track record for badger vaccination and the doubts over the efficacy of vaccinating in areas where there is a high incidence of TB.

He told the conference that using vaccination in the north Pembrokeshire Intensive Action Area, where the number of infected badgers was high, went against the recommendations of the environment minister for Wales’ own scientific review.

Vaccinated infected badgers can live for several years and continue to spread the disease, he suggested.

He added bovine TB was difficult to manage but he congratulated the farming industry for agreeing to better testing, rapid removal of reactors and enforced movement controls.