United Kingom-The TB debacle on farms.

UNITED KINGDOM-THE TB DEBACLE.

A Cornish vet has urged the Government to act immediately on the serious risks posed to animals by bovine tuberculosis (TB).

Nicky Paull, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said the spread of TB in cattle needed to be stopped among species prone to catching the disease, mainly badgers and also deer.

Mrs Paull, a partner in the Pelyn Veterinary Surgery, said the continuing spread of the disease "not only has an unacceptable impact on animal health and welfare but also the potential for being a very serious risk to public health".

She went on: "And I also believe we should not forget the health and welfare of our farming communities.

"Clearly the eradication of bovine TB from both the cattle and wildlife populations must be the ultimate aim – otherwise why would Government have set up a TB Eradication scheme.

"But, as veterinary scientists and practitioners, we remain convinced that steps need to be taken immediately, and humanely, to control the spread of infection in all susceptible species. Only then can we move on to eradication."

The National Farmers’ Union claims 28,000 ’apparently infected cattle’ were slaughtered in the West Country alone last year.

Two years ago, the Government abandoned plans for a controversial badger cull after a major scientific study found it would make no meaningful contribution to tackling bovine TB. This was despite repeated claims over the link between the disease in badgers and cattle.

Mrs Paull was speaking at the BVA’s annual dinner, attended by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesman said it aimed to eradicate the disease but this would take time.