THE GOAT VETERINARY SOCIETY |
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VACCINATION AND VACCINE AVAILABILITY
There are currently 10.6 million doses in the UK supply chain, left over from that underwritten by DEFRA last year, expiring as follows, 4.7 million doses in June, 4 million in July, and 1.9 million in August. There will be no need to stock only against definite orders, vaccine can be ordered on a normal commercial basis, and it may be prudent to make sure it is going to be used before it expires!!. If the vaccine is not taken up, it could be sold abroad. It is assumed that plenty of BTV8 vaccine will be available.
BTV1. The risk of BTV1 coming into the UK is difficult to assess, but is by no means negligible. A buffer stock of vaccine is likely to be purchased when available, for use in emergency as ring vaccination.
BTV6 and BTV11 are currently thought not to be a serious risk to the UK.
BLUE ZONE
The possibility of setting up a so called blue zone in the UK where the area is declared free of circulating virus, but vaccination is allowed, was discussed again. The problem is that the cost of surveillance and the effect of zoning the country, might well outweigh any possible advantage.
CONCLUSIONS
1. THERE is a HIGH RISK that infection could flare up ANYWHERE in mainland Britain in 2009
2. VACCINATION CONTINUES TO BE THE ONLY SAFE OPTION
There is no likelihood of a BTV1/8 combined vaccine coming available this year, and thus BTV1 vaccine has to be used separately, and not within 2 weeks of BTV8 vaccine. They cannot, it would appear, be given together. It might therefore in the highest risk BTV1 area, which is in effect the South coastal area, be wise to make sure that BTV8 vaccine is done NOW in case you need to use BTV1 vaccine later. That I realise may be easier said than done, especially for lambs and spring born calves and kids!!.
3. It remains ESSENTIAL to report ALL cases that might be BTV, even in vaccinated animals. Remember it might be ANOTHER strain of BT
4. It is not known how many animals may have overwintered the virus. these would usually be calves whose mothers became infected while early pregnant in the autumn.
Some of these are presented as “Mentally deficient”. Quite a number are stillborn. Many animals can be symptomless carriers, and those could similarly have moved disease around the country undetected.
5. The message is that for now, if you DO NOT vaccinate then not only YOUR STOCK WILL BE AT RISK, but also EVERYBODY ELSES.
In saying that, I think we all at the meeting hope that this time The French vaccination campaign is successful. It needs infection there to fall to a very low level of both strains before we are out of danger, and if we do not protect ourselves we have only ourselves to blame.
6. Please note the problem of vaccinated goats not being accepted by importing countries. The rationale behind the non acceptance is distinctly muddled!!. Efforts are being made behind the scenes to improve matters, but are likely to be difficult.
Nick Clayton.