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Vaccination call in farm
plague probe
AN independent inquiry into foot-and-mouth
disease today recommended emergency vaccination of animals if
there is another outbreak.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh investigation also called for
tighter import controls and the creation of a Scottish testing
laboratory.
And it urged closer Scottish involvement in decision-making,
along with a new post of chief veterinary officer for Scotland,
backed by a "territorial veterinary army", which would be
available to be called on when needed.
The report, designed to consider lessons to be learned from last
year’s outbreak, concluded preventive mass vaccination of
animals against the disease was "not an immediate priority", but
it did recommend the use of vaccination to isolate herds that
have been infected, removing the need for thousands of healthy
animals to be slaughtered to halt the spread of the disease.
The report said foot-and-mouth only breaks out in the UK because
it is brought in from other countries. And it outlined tougher
import controls, which it said would need European Union support
to be effective.
It said the Pirbright animal health laboratory in Surrey was
overloaded at the time of the outbreak and the absence of a
testing laboratory in Scotland meant delays in obtaining test
results.
A Scottish laboratory would allow more rapid implementation of a
control programme.
The report also said there should be swifter action to stop
animal movements.
The RSE investigation by a committee of 18 experts, chaired by
Professor Ian Cunningham, former principal of the West of
Scotland Agricultural College, is just one of several inquiries
taking place in the wake of the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
Another, by the Royal Society, chaired by Professor Sir Brian
Follett, is due to report tomorrow. Suggestions are the report
will say healthy animals close to an outbreak should be
vaccinated to prevent the disease spreading.
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