August 13, 2007

UK Chief Vet: No FMD vaccinations given yet

United Kingdom Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds said Friday (August 10) no decision has so far been made to start issuing vaccinations for foot-and-mouth disease.

UK officials are currently testing for a possible third outbreak of the disease, but Reynolds said results weren't yet available.

It is very likely the source of the outbreak is the Pirbright vaccination research facility, but as yet the possible mechanics of the spread from the site haven't been identified, Reynolds said.

Asked whether she thought the outbreak had been contained, Reynolds said the disease containment strategy required a ban across Britain. She maintained there was a low, but not negligible, risk of the disease spreading beyond Surrey.

The two-mile protection zone around the third suspected premises is a precautionary measure, until any outbreak could be confirmed, Reynolds said.

She emphasized it was still day seven of the outbreak and the situation should be looked at on a day-to-day basis.

The first step is to see whether or not the disease could be eradicated by the existing strategy as evaluated by epidemiologists and animal health officials on the ground, before implementing vaccination procedures.