24 Apr Notifiable disease outbreak

The anticipated levels of Avian Influenza (AI) affecting both wild birds and domestic poultry over the past winter months thankfully did not happen and, apart from a few sporadic cases, Farmcare involvement has been fairly minimal compared to Winter 22/23.

However, Blue Tongue Virus (BTV) serotype 3 was discovered on 2 index farms, one in Kent and one in Norfolk, as part of the annual randomised BTV survey. As a result, nearly 600 VDP vet days were commissioned between Kent and Norfolk with over 70 different OVs involved in clinical inspections and sampling on all holdings within the Temporary Control Zones. Over 120 animals (mainly cattle) were identified from over 40,000 animals sampled and depending on a number of factors, including whether the vector period was deemed active, animals were either culled to reduce risk of onward transmission or remained on farm. Whether all sources of BTV have been removed by a combination of culling and length of low vector period is hard to know but the risk of another incursion from the continent remains high, especially while susceptible animals remain unvaccinated. We will have to wait to see how APHA Policy evolves this coming summer with respect to BTV and how that may impact our resource and commissions.

The ability for the VDPs to respond to Service C commissions, which sometimes occur with less than 24 hours’ notice, is testament to OVs and practices fully onboarding vets prior to commissions coming through. APHA and Improve International are continuing to develop their outbreak disease courses, AI and African Swine Fever (ASF) completed with BTV being developed. It is imperative that OVs onboard fully before deployment, undertaking the National Disease Outbreak Training (NDOT), as well as DBS checks and H&S checks and briefings. Farmcare will work in conjunction with APHA and monitor the number of onboarded OVs based on the perceived disease risks. As ever, fulfilling the Service C commissions has only been possible due to the hard work of OVs and their practices, so a big thank you.