foot and mouth

[happy hollidays]

My friend has just rung me and said that foot and mouth has been confirmed in Guildford ( I am in early stages of farrowing ). I keep my fingers crossed for everyone that it does not escalate into the disaster before. I have recently booked my first dexter for slaughter, now its on hold, what a blow!

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Very sad news indeed, my heart goes out to anyone in the vicinity, and anyone with planned movements in the next few days.

However I am very very glad to see a national movement ban so soon, in 2001 it took far too long. No-one should panic, but everyone should have a careful look at stock and report any suspicious signs. Until we know more of the likely extent of the outbreak everyone througout the UK should step up biosecurity, the movement of animals restriction being the obvious thing, but movements of men and machines which can carry organic material are also a possible means of spread.

But above all let us remain calm.

Duncan

[Mark Bowles]

Happy Holidays, you should be OK to send your animal to slaughter with a license to move it, when DEFRA get sorted. After all its a one way ticket.
Well, its happened again, i hope they get to the cause so something can be done about it, if its imported meat then lets get it banned.
I assume that the shows and melton sale will be cancelled, as all national movements have been stopped. i cant see anything moving again for at least 6 months. I feel sorry for those of you who are bull less, and overstocked, it could be a long winter.
Mark

[Duncan MacIntyre]

If this turns out to be an isolated case then all being well we will not be looking at total ban on movements for anything like 6 months. We just need to stay calm and see how things develop in the next week or two. But we should not be complacent - everyone whether close to the outbreak or not should be more conscious of biosecurity and should check stock carefully.

Duncan

[Inger]

I've just heard. I hope they can find the source quickly and eliminate it. I don't understand why any meat is allowed to be legally imported from countries which are endemic for F & M?

It doesn't stop the illegal importation of 'bushmeat' though does it? The people who do that, should be tried for treason. Its such a terrible thing to do to the country you live in.

You don't suppose that the flood waters have lift the virus out of the ground from the burried carcasses, along with the rising water table, do you? A recent immergrant here, said she remembered that the last outbreak started after heavy rain as well.

[Broomcroft]

What should we look for and should we be disinfecting vehicles coming in and out?

[Mark Bowles]

I wonder if there are any board users in the area that can give us more info about the situation, if you are out there and want to let us know then email me,the webmaster, info@dextercattleforsale.co.uk or apply to join the board as a member. I am sure this site will come in usefull to the dexter community for firsthand info and support.
Mark

[Duncan MacIntyre]

We should all be checking sheep,goats, cattle and pigs for any suspicious signs, such as soreness around mouth and feet, may show as slavering, champing jaws, sometimes makes froth due to constant jaw movements. On inspection ulcers can be seen on the gums but particulary on the tongue, begin as blister like bits which fill and extend, then the top layer of tissue will peel off leaving raw surfaces underneath. Vesicles or blisters can show around the tops and between hooves as well. Affected animals have high temperatures to start with, and sometimes dullness and high temperatures may be spotted before any foot or mouth signs show.

Until we know more about the extent and origin of the outbreak I do not think it would be wrong to insist on disinfecting visiting vehicles if they are likely to be crossing areas used by livestock. Ideally for protection from any other diseases we should have our farms arranged so that vehicles which may be contaminated by animals on other farms do not contact our livestock areas. Hiring machinery in can also present a risk, eg slurry spreading contractors. Baling contractors probably less of a risk but all equipment visiting you should be clean and disinfected.

Do not go about handling other peoples stock without serious efforts at disinfection of protective clothing, preferably do not visit stock other than your own

This may all sound a bit over the top but remember that in 2001 the first report was in Essex but the infection started in the north of England and had also moved across to the west and down to Devon before the initial case was reported, so for the next few days precautions and calm should be the order of the day. We should all be careful but no need to frighten ourselves.

Duncan

[Penny]

Having gone through the nightmare last time, my bit of advice is that do have very high biosecurity. Disinfecting is not enough, you need the mud off first, as the virus travels in mud ( which could be related to the wet weather theory?) Disinfecting muddy wheels/ wellies etc is a waste of time and money. Clean them, then disinfect.
Biosecurity will help protect you from the disease, but not Defra. The disease came to our village out of the blue. There was nothing within 100 miles at the time, then it was assumed that the disease came in on a lorry that had brought straw from the infected area to the farm where the outbreak began in our area.
My heart goes out to all in the near vicinity of the outbreak. Keep strong and talk to your neighbours.
One question...........
F&M is a problem with all cloven hooved animals. Nothing was ever done with the wild deer population last time. Is it possible that it has survived in the wildlife anyway?

One very worried Penny, trying to keep calm.

[Broomcroft]

Here's the general link to DEFRA F&M advice: http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/

Direct link to the DEFRA F&M factsheet: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/disease ... sheet2.pdf

And a link for biosecurity info regarding NFSS: www.nfsco.co.uk/the_scheme/farmers/biosecurity/

[Kathy Millar]

Please keep us all informed. My heart goes out to any of the infected farms. I hope your government uses its brain this time around.... and I hope never to see it here in Canada!

[redhill]

warmwell.com is up dating each hour We do have amongst us the compiler of the 2001 FMD archive stored at RASE Stonleigh,she is a Dexter Keeper , Anything that is relevent will appear here first., All she can recommend at the moment is BIO SECURITY a bucket of disinfectant and a scrubbing brush at each entrance to your farm ,and as few visitors as possible, If you expect a visit from Defra make sure they scrub their boots, Any questions ,I will gladly pass on ,but she is a very busy lady at the moment Best Wishes Sue

[redhill]

Looks like Pirbrite have some explaining to do,the strain of FMD found in the cattle is identical to the strain used in vacine used in their laboratories. Sue

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Various points.
1. thanks to Clive for putting up all the links to useful sites.

2. Penny, on the question of deer, I think it was concluded during the 2001 outbreak that though deer may be infected, they are unlikely to become a reservoir of infection - main reasons being the low density of population combined with the transient nature of infection. TB on the otherhand creates a long lasting infection. Not comarable in epidemiological terms.

3. Sue, not wishing to be inflammatory on this site, I did flag up the proximity to Pirgright more than 24hours ago on a veterinary site. Although many of us may feel a certain sense of relief that the source may be known, we should be very supportive of those in the possible plume area from Pirbright. Our thoughts and prayer should be with those farmers.

Duncan

[redhill]

I agree with you Duncan,having experienced the trauma of 2001 sue