Scientists seek support of British Farmers to assess bluetongue vaccination
Scientists of the Institute for Animal Health and University of Cambridge seek the assistance of farmers in their study of bluetongue vaccine this year in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
Following the first cases ever of bluetongue in Britain last September, farmers began vaccinating their livestock with newly developed vaccine in May.
Vaccination has been vigorously supported by the JAB campaign, a joint initiative including the National Farmers Union, the British Veterinary Association, the Institute for Animal Health and Defra, which aims to get the maximum possible coverage in the bluetongue risk area in England. The aim is to block the spread of disease this year both in the areas affected in 2007 (predominantly in East Anglia) and in other regions of the UK. "We are most keen to get the involvement of farmers in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk in this study, they being at the epicentre of last year's historic outbreak." said Chris Oura. "To help farmers this year and next year, we need to demonstrate how well vaccination is working and what reasons underlie decisions to vaccinate".
Dr Chris Oura (Institute for Animal Health) and Dr James Wood (University of
Cambridge) have just begun to investigate two aspects of bluetongue vaccination in Britain. One is to ascertain the take-up of vaccine by farmers and to understand better the reasons for the success of the programme. The other aspect is to quantify the animal health, welfare and financial benefits associated with vaccination.
The results will be essential not only for demonstrating how worthwhile vaccination has been this year, but also to inform possible further vaccine development, formulation and application, and for preparing the most up to date information and advice for farmers for next year.
There have been some ill-founded rumours circulating that BTV vaccines can result in abortions, potentially putting some farmers off vaccinating. "This is not true for the BTV vaccines that are licensed for use in the UK," said Chris Oura, "as the vaccine only contains inactivated (killed) virus, which cannot grow in animals."
James Wood said "We are keen to hear from farmers either directly or through their veterinarian. All information received will be treated in strict confidence and will be unattributable."
"Even if British farmers are successful in protecting their livestock against bluetongue this year, the threat will not end there", added Dr. Wood. "There is the possibility that infected midges will be blown to Britain again from the near Continent, where the disease is rife, throughout this summer and next year.
We need to take a medium rather than short term view of controlling bluetongue in Britain; knowing accurately what went on in Britain this year is essential for protecting our livestock next year."
