FMD vaccination programme developed

By Lauren Welch

- Published: 05 July, 2007

Genus ABS, Promar International and HTSPE have created a new national vaccination programme with Defra in the event of a Foot & Mouth outbreak.

The development will allow a quick and effective measure to be taken if the disease once more becomes a threat to British farms by using experienced teams to carry out the vaccination.

If resources are available from day five after confirmation of an outbreak, the programme will take place and will require an overseeing vet to carry out a pre-vaccination visit before teams begin vaccination of livestock.

However, despite the new programme, it cannot be confirmed that it will be used in the event of an outbreak.

Instead, the basic disease control policy, of slaughtering any susceptible animals on infected premises, may be used as in 2001 because of EU law.