CHRONOLOGY OF UK GOVERNMENT CHIEF SCIENTIFIC ADVISER'S INVOLVEMENT WITH FMD - TO WEEK ENDING 9 NOVEMBER 2001
Chief Scientific Adviser's (CSA's) FMD Science Group
The Chief Scientific Adviser's foot and mouth disease science group is not a formal committee, but rather a body of experts called together at short notice as a result of the emergency. The group is a mixture of government research scientists, university academics, practitioners in the field, and representatives of government departments and agencies. It brings together a range of experts in disciplines such as epidemiological modelling, statistics, animal health research, veterinary research and practice and logistics.
The science group was not set up to be to be a consensus forming body. It was constituted so as to include a range of views on the scientific aspects of tackling the outbreak. Its purpose is to help the CSA decide on and formulate advice to Government by means of discussion and debate.
The make-up of the group has evolved over the course of the outbreak. From time to time new experts have been added. For example, two practising vets have been invited to join the meetings, in order that the group could benefit from their experience in the field. At the same time some other groups, for example the logistics experts, have taken a less active role as the issues have evolved.
Timeline
20 February
FMD confirmed in Essex
14 March
MAFF provide data to epidemiologists
21 March
Epidemiologists make presentations of their models to CSA, DEFRA's Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) and Sir John Krebs, Chairman of the Food Standards Agency
Roy Anderson media interviews on epidemiology of FMD
22 March
24 March
CSA begins drafting letter to the PM advising that epidemic out of control, but not in the event sent due to invitation from PM for CSA to set up FMD Science Group. Meeting of Permanent Secretaries to discuss FMD. CSA advises disease out of control. (This meeting chaired by the Secretary of the Cabinet, Sir Richard Wilson starts off the Cabinet Office group (COBR) meetings)
CSA takes part in media briefing (first of many)
CSA attends COBR meetings which are initially held on average twice daily every weekday for the next 6 weeks before being scaled down. Later the FMD (co-ordinating) Meetings take on COBR's role - these are held twice weekly
25 March
Imperial College provides further analysis of the effects of ring culling plus vaccination, modified after discussions with Cambridge group.
26 March
First meeting of the FMD Science Group (SG). The group continues to meet daily until the end of March, 10 meetings held in April and then on a weekly basis. 30 meetings held up to the end of September
1st SG meeting - issues discussed:
latest outputs from epidemiological models (modelling developments)
impact of vaccination (vaccination strategy for both non food-chain animals and cattle)
review of data on FMD virus
Meeting with Ben Gill, National Farmer's Union (NFU)
27 March
2nd SG meeting - issues discussed:
vaccination strategy
review of data/model outputs
28 March
3rd SG meeting - issues discussed:
further information on vaccination
latest opinions from epidemiologists
data requirements
29 March
4th SG meeting - issues discussed:
vaccination and its possible effects on the outbreak
Meeting with PM to discuss vaccination
30 March
5th SG meeting - issues discussed:
recent findings
questions to be answered
data issues
2 April
6th SG meeting - issues discussed:
options for dealing with the situation in Cumbria
how to handle new cases of infection adjacent to the 'hot-spots'
3 April
7th SG meeting - issues discussed:
regional briefing paper
liaison with media
prioritising uses of serology
epidemiological modelling
area north of Birmingham
database of stock density
paper by Dr Donaldson on vaccination
CSA's first public talk at the Royal Society on the FMD epidemic
4 April
Media briefing "measures beginning to bite" and regional briefings to farmers by scientists from FMD Science Group and officials. CSA interviewed on Channel 4 TV and BBC Radio 4
5 April
8th SG meeting - issues discussed:
feedback from regional visits
rare/endangered breeds
draft ramblers leaflet
disease control system,
first draft of DEFRA's paper on serology
DEFRA's Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA) Interspread model6 April
9th SG meeting - issues discussed:
possibility of using new virus detection equipment
availability of data (on location and timings of premises slaughtered)
progress on modelling
draft Q&A on the scientific aspects of vaccination
draft paper on the serology screening paper and priorities for future work
CSA attends first progress meeting at No 10
7 April
DEFRA issue leaflet: "How FMD is spread" which gives advice from the CSA and CVO on how to avoid spreading the disease while still enjoying the countryside
10 April
10th SG meeting - issues discussed:
vaccination programme (Cumbria)
control by aerial disinfection
data on number of animals slaughtered
epidemiology of FMD in sheep
preparation for media briefing on 11 April
CSA letter to PM advising on use of vaccination in Cumbria
11 April
Media briefing "number of cases levelling out". Interviewed by BBC Radio 4
12 April
11th SG meeting - issues discussed:
definition of contiguous premises
data on slaughtering
Smart Cycler virus testing machine
policy options in Devon
vaccination
Meeting with PM, Sir John Krebs and retailers at Chequers to discuss vaccination
16 April
CSA visits Cumbria to explain to local farmers and vets the 24/48 hour cull and a possible vaccination campaign
17 April
12th SG meeting - issues discussed:
details of CSA's visit to Cumbria to meet farmers on 16 April
modelling updates
data on slaughtering
working methods of the SG
media handling
planning of serological testing (Pirbright)
Smart Cycler Followed by:
SG's Subgroup on Vaccines meeting
Meeting with Ben Gill, NFU
Meeting at No 10 with PM, Nick Brown, Eliott Morley, CVO and Brian Bender, Permanent Secretary, DEFRA
18/19 April
Meetings with representatives of the NFU and the British Cattle Veterinary Association by the CSA and some of the FMD Science Group
18 April
CSA and CVO give media briefing on limited vaccination proposals
19 April
13th SG meeting - issues discussed:
Update on availability of slaughter data (DEFRA)
Epidemiological updates
48 hour contiguous cull policy
report back from the vaccination sub-group meeting
Media briefing "disease fully under control"
20 April
Letter to PM saying no co-operation from farmers on vaccination
24 April
14th SG meeting -, issues discussed:
contiguous cull policy
updates and results of recent modelling
vaccination
Smart Cycler technology
issues arising from meetings with NFU and vets
FMD in deer
Agriculture Select Committee
access to DEFRA database
monitoring smoke from burning pyres25 April
CSA's appearance before the House of Commons Agriculture Committee.
Meeting with Nick Brown to advise on redefining the contiguous cull policy followed by 10pm TV news interview on Phoenix the calf
26 April
15th SG meeting - issues discussed:
update by CSA on decisions on culling of contiguous premises
Agricultural Select Committee
epidemiology update
CSA and CVO Media briefing following Nick Brown's statement to the Commons on contiguous culling
2 May
CSA appearance before the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee
16th SG meeting - issues discussed:
rationale behind the contiguous cull policy
exit strategy
opening up the Lake District
epidemiology updates
FMD transmission in pigs
3 May
Media briefing with PM "controls having significant effect and epidemic was under control". CSA attends meeting chaired by PM with NFU, Nick Brown, Brian Bender and Jim Scudamore. Interviewed by Channel 4 TV
9 May
17th SG meeting - issues discussed:
epidemiological updates
contiguous cull
CVO letter of 1 May on FMD control issues
SG's revised paper on vaccination 'key facts'
15 May
Meeting with Australian Trade Minister which includes discussion on epidemic
Interviewed on BBC Radio 4 Today Programme
16th May
18th SG meeting - issues discussed:
update on number of cases
vaccination paper ('key facts')
epidemiological updates
timeline
contiguous cull
letter to the CVO regarding FMD control issues
possible article explaining the work of the group
18 May
Meeting with United States Department of Agriculture on portable PCRs
24 May
19th SG meeting - issues discussed:
updates on number of cases
epidemiological updates
contiguous cull
private FMD diagnostics service
future papers
Channel 4 TV Interview..
30 May
20th SG meeting -issues discussed:
updates on number of cases
epidemiological updates
approach by company seeking assistance on new diagnostic technology and
development of testing techniques
CSA and CVO media briefing on the Settle cluster
Interview for Channel 4 TV
7 June
21st SG meeting - issues discussed:
epidemiological updates
control measures in Settle and elsewhere
vaccination in the Settle cluster
collection of epidemiological data versus early culling
12 June
CSA visits Germany and interviewed by German newspaper about genetics, BSE and FMD
18 June
Meeting with NFU to discuss vaccination and epidemic
20 June
22nd SG meeting - issues discussed
epidemiological updates and use of models to predict future 'hotspots'
vaccination
future meetings of the group
electricity pylons
28 June
23rd SG meeting - issues discussed
epidemiological updates
provision of data by DEFRA
vaccination
evaluation of PCR technology
biosecurity campaign
exemption scheme for pedigree pigs or rare breeds or high genetic value
serology
29 June
Meeting at NFU offices to discuss controls with Cumbrian farmers
Early July
Representatives from the FMD Science Group go on regional visits to Penrith, Settle, Whitby and Devon as part of DEFRA team reinforcing the biosecurity message
3 July
CSA interviewed for Channel 4 TV Dispatches
11 July
24th SG meeting - issues discussed
epidemiological updates
vaccination
biosecurity
statement on the contiguous cull
planning for autumn sheep movements
18 July
25th SG meetings - issues discussed
epidemiological updates
relaxation of autumn movement controls
autumn movements
vaccination
evaluation of PCR technology
science behind the contiguous cull
biosecurity campaign
25 July
26th SG meeting - issues discussed
epidemiological updates
DEFRA proposals to bear down on the epidemic
vaccination (including proposals for the Brecon Beacons)
PCR technology
8 August
27th SG meeting- - items discussed
epidemiological updates
future policy options
Dutch vaccination policy
20 August
Meeting with Soil Association to discuss vaccination
22 August
28th SG meeting - issues discussed
review of current situation
autumn movements
30 August
Meeting with NFU to discuss autumn movements
CSA expresses concerns to Lord Whitty about effects of relaxation of movement controls
31 August
Presentation to industry stakeholders at DEFRA meeting on autumn movements
5 September
29th SG meeting - issues discussed
epidemiological updates
autumn movements
vaccination
Channel 4 TV News interview on two scientific papers from Keeling et al and Ferguson et al published respectively in Science and Nature which give a retrospective view of how such outbreaks could be managed in the future
6 September
BBC Radio 4 interview for the Today programme on vaccination and the above publications
7 September
CSA gives media interviews on FMD at British Association for the Advancement of Science Festival, Glasgow
10 September
CSA and DEFRA officials meet Cumbrian NFU members
13 September
Media briefing with DEFRA on vaccination
17 September
Meeting with Fred Brown and others to discuss PCR technology and vaccination
19 September
30th SG meeting - issues discussed
current situation
epidemiological updates
comments of state of the epidemic
use of PCR
autumn movements
vaccination
21 September
Article in the Daily Telegraph on vaccination
11 October
Meeting with the NFU Council
12 October
CSA speaks on "Farming Today" following NFU Council meeting
18 October
CSA meets with Cumbrian farmers
1 November
31st SG meeting - issues discussed
vaccination
serology and reporting of confirmed cases
testing for FMD (PCR)
epidemiological updates
7 November
CSA appears before the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee to answer questions on FMD
OST November 2001