Position Statement on Bluetongue
Mass vaccination is the only way to tackle the looming threat of bluetongue virus in the uk -
This is the position adopted by RBST - Britain's leading conservation organisation for native farm animals.
This is also the view of experts who attended a conference organised by the European Commission on 16 January 2008 and RBST not only supports this view but also draws attention to the EC offer to meet a large proportion of the costs of such protection for this year via a mandatory vaccination programme.
Both the EC and DEFRA state that a minimum of 80% coverage is essential for a vaccination programme to be effective and this would be unlikely through a voluntary approach.
During 2007 we saw the disease spread with devastating effect across Belgium, Holland, Germany and France. RBST says we must learn from the experience of North West Europe and says that the UK Government must act speedily if we are to avoid an explosion of BTV once the midge population is reactivated by the ever milder spring and summer conditions - which are only just around the corner.
RBST acknowledges that the UK was the first EU member state to place a firm order for the BTV8 inactivated vaccine but believes that the scale of protection needed will require both financial assistance and mandatory backing if the UK is avoid a catastrophic impact not only on its endangered native breeds but also on the economic health of the livestock industry in general.
PET
3 Feb 08
Devon Support Group has provided a Q&A page which you might find helpful please click here to be re-directed.
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