Dont lose your nerve, say vets

2 March 2001



Don’t lose your nerve, say vets

By Mike Stones

DOGGED determination to eradicate every case of foot-and-mouth will end the crisis, as it did in the last serious outbreak in 1967, says a leading vet.

“We must not lose our nerve but stick with the control measures that worked in 1967/68 and will work again,” said David Tyson, president of the British Veterinary Association.

Quicker disease diagnosis, due to new technology and traceability through the British Cattle Movement Service, should speed the isolation of cases, he said.

But the late identification of foot-and-mouth at an abattoir, rather than at a farm as in 1967, has vastly increased the risk of spread.

“Early identification on a farm in 1967 helped us to contain the spread of the disease to four or five counties (around Cheshire and the west midlands).

“This time there is enormous potential for foot-and-mouth to spread because the first outbreak was found at an abattoir,” said Mr Tyson.

In 1967 a regional ban on livestock movement was thought sufficient to control the disease.

Then as now, farmers best, indeed only, hope lies in enforcing strict control, quarantine and stock disposal procedures, said Mr Tyson.

“There is no other way of controlling foot-and-mouth. Thankfully, the abattoir ante-mortem service worked in identifying the disease.”

And a programme of vaccination would end the UKs disease-free status.

Mr Tyson believed MAFF acted quickly and responsibly to ban livestock exports and movement.

But more vets would be needed to tackle new cases, he said. “As in 1967, MAFF has asked private vets to help the 250-300 State Veterinary Service vets.”

But fewer private vets have livestock experience, warned former BVA president Bob Stevenson.

“About 50% of private vets have treated farm animals compared with up to 85% in 1967,” he said.

In addition to the wider spread of the latest outbreak, Mr Stevenson notes another key difference.

“In the 1960s, there was greater sympathy for farmers and a better understanding of the need for control,” said Mr Stevenson, who worked as a vet near Craven Arms, Shropshire in 1967/68 when up to 60 new cases a day were reported.

“People forget that foot-and-mouth was common here, with about 1000 animals a year slaughtered due to the disease between 1931 and 1961,” he added.

Underlining the BVA presidents advice, Mr Stevenson thinks farmers have no option but to trust the control measures.

“Beware fatalism; it is vital farmers stick with the control measures. Foot-and-mouth responds to barrier exclusion eventually. It is a question of time.”