BTV Update - 20th December 2007

Disease Update: - We are now in a stable disease situation with no new cases in the last two of weeks.   66 IPs. On December 1st a consignment of cows were imported from Germany to the Middlesbrough area in England and 1 was found positive for BTV 8 by PCR and blood test on December 12.  This animal was slaughtered on December 14 to stop the potential spread of the virus to the midge population.  Restrictions have been placed on the farm and a full epidemiology study is underway.  In accordance with the BTV strategy as there was no evidence that virus was circulating in the midge population in this area, (no other cases have been found), control zones have not been set up.  

Importers must be very cautious when importing animals from high risk BTV areas because of the risk it poses to the whole industry.   Animals which are found to be BTV 8 positive on arrival will be slaughtered with no remuneration.  

Winter strategy: The plan is still to contain the disease in south/south east England. We are now moving towards a ~vector free period~ (VFP) or low transmission period and a review of the BTV control policy, taking into consideration the huge economic implications for the industry and the likely arrival of vaccine is underway because the efforts to contain the disease may be disproportionate to the economic impacts.  

Based on historical data a VFP should occur between January and March and this provides an opportunity for movements.    We are still in phase one of the BTV 8 outbreak so restrictions must remain, but will be under constant review because of the hardships caused by the zones.  

Movement out of BTV8 Zones to live.

The rules for moving out of PZs and SZs to live are laid down in the EU regulation (known as Annex 3 movements). The zones in the EU are confluent therefore it is possible, for example, for animals in say Norfolk (UK PZ) to move to Belgium without testing (Belgium is all in the PZ) or from the English SZ to the PZ or SZ in Europe without testing.

Animals may move to the Free Area (FA) to live if in simple terms; (DEFRA expects to publish the full details on 20 Dec)

a.       They have been protected from vector attack for 60 days.

b.      They have been protected from vector attack for 28 days and serologically tested.

c.       They have been protected from vector attack for 14 days and PCR tested.

Protection from vector attack in the view of most Member States (MS) including England means being kept in a building which midges can not enter, for example double air locking doors are needed. The rules for protection from vector attack in England are not economically achievable on farm. Within the EU the interpretation and enforcement of ‘protection from vector attack’ is delegated by MS to a Competent Authority (CA). In France and Germany the CA is not doing its job properly, hence the arrival in England of an infectious animal from Germany. BTV 8 positive animals have been sent from Germany and France to several MS and this was discussed in Brussels yesterday. People wishing to import animals should be aware that the system in Germany and France is NOT robust.

The announcement of a Vector Free Period (VFP) in England will allow movement to live. The VFP is declared following close monitoring of midge activity by trapping and consistent low temperature.