Bluetongue Stakeholders Meeting

Purpose of meeting was to update Bluetongue Situation
Charles Milne, Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland – France has decided nationwide vaccination of BTV1.
In France
BTV8 – 23,959 cases in 2008 (cases holding)
BTV1 – 4,339 cases in 2008
BTV1 & 8 – 82 cases in 2008

Bluetongue threat to Scotland
• Imports from continental protection zone have come legally
• 11 batches of BTV8 in 32008 in 2008 and1 import of BTV1 & 8

Importing animals is dangerous and can spread disease.

23.4% of Scottish farms have now been supplied doses of BTV8 vaccine. (1.4m doses)

Percentage uptake in Cumbria and Northumberland is less than in Scotland. This is possibly because vets in those areas are advising spring vaccinations.

Scottish Bluetongue Road Shows with vets and farmers meetings received good turnouts. Revealed certain clarifications required to the vaccination programme.

NBA hosted Inverurie (350), Nairn (60), Caithness (100) meetings. Farmers questioned the programme its need and side affects of vaccine but all left the meetings relatively happy. There was a lot of anger about those importing cattle from areas where there is known to be bluetongue. Vaccination of spring born calves might pose a logistical problem. SBC hosted Perth and Castle Douglas meetings. SAC organised three meetings on west coast and the islands.

Blue zones
Where you vaccinate you become a protection zone. This allows movements between P2 and increases the potential of importing disease.

Bluezones would allow greater controls e.g.
-vaccinated for 60 days.

EC are holding a technical working group later in January. Could mean greater testing of animals in Scotland and subsequently greater costs. Movement controls would not be desirable because of the kind of restrictions that operated in England – Scotland in 2008.

Blue zone would need to be on a GB basis. This would stop imports unless vaccinated. There was no circulating bluetongue in England in 2008. Risk of importing disease from England is much than importing from Continent. Importing from France could import BTV1.

It is illegal to ban imports from Europe and would face a judicial review. The Scottish Industry have imposed a voluntary ban that appears to be working. There have been no imports since October 2008 except for some reindeer for Christmas activities.

Vaccination has created a problem with supplies for artificial insemination from vaccinated bulls. One pedigree bull has died and numerous abortions have resulted. 500 X £30 per dose (Artificial Insemination Semen) per week is the financial loss.

All this comes from the Bluetongue vaccination which was introduced without proper testing.

Charles Milne replied that there are no similar reports coming out of Europe where vaccination has been ongoing for much longer. He promised full investigation and follow up with the manufacturers.

Veterinary Medicines Directorate would have endorsed the usage of the vaccinations and will be collecting adverse reactions.

Under AOCB the Crofters Association tabled a petition of over 700 names seeking exemptions for Western Isles similar to that for the Shetlands.