1. surveillance for FMD
2. clinical surveillance
3. virological follow up of suspect cases
4. serological surveillance for evidence of infection
5. efficacy of vaccination
6. an effective disease surveillance system with prompt and efficient reporting of FMD nationally and internationally to OIE
7. establishment of a reference laboratory with responsibility for diagnosis and submission of representative samples to regional or world reference laboratories
8. policies to prevent introduction of FMD

1. This will usually involve intensive national or regional vaccination campaigns using approved vaccines under government control.
2. In exceptional cases the incidence of the disease might be sufficiently low that a slaughter policy might be introduced in the first instance.

    

   Recognition as free from FMD with vaccination All of the above components of an FMD control policy must be in place and have been shown to be effective No outbreaks of FMD recorded for at least two years If outbreaks do occur, FMD-free status may be regained after either 12 months if 'stamping out' is applied or after a further two years if it is not.

   Recognition as free from FMD without vaccination Policy of stamping out Prompt and regular reporting of disease No outbreaks for at least 12 months No vaccination or importation of vaccinated animals

"Typically, virus is used to infect a suspension cell culture and the resulting preparation is clarified, inactivated with ethylenimine and blended with adjuvant. Many FMD vaccines are multivalent to provide cover against the different serotypes likely to be encountered in a given field situation "

"Because of the presence of multiple serotypes of the virus, many FMD vaccines are multivalent, and it is common practice to prepare vaccines from three or more different virus strains."

http://www.oie.int/eng/normes/mmanual/A_00018.htm

1. Infected animals can be distinguished from vaccinated animals by a simple test of their blood 2. If a vaccinated animal becomes infected it can be identified by test. 3. If the animals in 2. become infected and then become carrier animals it is extremely unlikely that they would pass on the virus to other animals

Many attempts to infect naive animals by bringing them into contact with carrier animals have failed. There is, as far as I know, just one reported case. Prof Fred Brown, United States Department of Agriculture, Plum Island Animal Disease Center

We are part of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Which states "Each member shall collaborate with and assist other members in all concerted measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease and in particular in the supply of vaccine or antigen for vaccine production where necessary."

http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FaoInfo /Agricult/AGA/AGAH/EUFMD/Default.htm THERE CAN BE NO SHORTAGE OF VACCINE - USE IT NOW.

"30% of British high quality lamb is exported on average each year, almost exclusively to Europe.
It is more expensive to produce than in many countries of the world and can only be sold where there is a premium for quality.
Unless the national flock is radically reduced in size, the glut of lamb will certainly lead to a massive surplus on the home market and totally uneconomic returns for almost all commercial sheep farmers SO THINGS HAVN'T BEEN UNECONOMIC FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS? .This has serious implications for farmers and animal welfare.

I am not sure what percentage have been culled so far, but believe it to be less than 20%.Had the "cull" been done in an effective, logical and humane manner, this was one of the reasons that this [THE CULL] was perceived as the most effective way to safeguard the economics of lamb production.
E.E.C. intervention buying at currently funded levels can only cope with a 1 or 2 % disparity between supply and demand, and the stored excess production would be extremely difficult or impossible to absorb in future years in the home market alone.

It must be remembered that export of lamb to Europe will only be permitted to resume some time after the last vaccinated animal is culled. OR TWO YEARS AFTER LAST VACCINATION [SEE ABOVE] There is the theoretical possibility this could be done regionally within the U.K., but enforcement and verification would be a considerable hurdle. Sheep aren't ear-tagged! " YET

Peter Ding B.V.Sc MRCVS ex TVI (Stafford)

CLEAR ISN'T IT FMD IS COST EFFECTIVE, THATS ALL RIGHT THEN.[FMDACTION]