Bluetongue Strategy

The Animal Health and Welfare Stakeholder Group, having discussed the issues surrounding the potential use of vaccination against Bluetongue in Great Britain, are of the opinion that:

1. There should be a United Kingdom vaccination strategy aimed at the prevention of Bluetongue in those parts of the United Kingdom which are currently free from the disease. A key element of this strategy should be the targeted use of vaccination to control the spread of disease.

2. Representation should be made to the Commission to allow vaccination other than in a Protection Zone in order to create a barrier across which disease cannot spread.

3. At the present time there is no need to procure vaccine for use in Scotland given that the present focus of disease remains in eastern England and that the Commission are unlikely to allow vaccination in disease – free zones.

4. Consideration should be given to making the vaccination programme compulsory as vaccinating on a voluntary basis is unlikely to achieve sufficient coverage of susceptible animals in the time available. The resource implications of this could be managed on a partnership basis. Ideally, high genetic or financial value animals should be eligible for vaccination wherever their location.

5. There should be an open, United Kingdom dialogue on vaccination. A communications campaign should be mounted to ensure that the opinions of practicing livestock holders are fully reflected in discussions on the vaccination strategy.

6. Should bluetongue become widespread across Great Britain, a containment strategy will no longer be appropriate and a programme of prophylactic vaccination pursued.

Until vaccination is proven to be effective, any movements to Scotland from high risk areas should be discouraged where it is not possible to ban them.