Bluetongue Stakeholder Meeting
13:15 – 14:45 Tuesday 6
th
May 2008
Room 613 Nobel House
Attendees
John Kittmer
David Mouat
Phil Reed
Ian Hill
James Dancy
Linda Reay
Panchali Guha
Alice Russell-Hare CAAV
Richard Beale SL
Chris Dodds LAA
Nick Clayton GVS
Duff Burrell NBA
Tim Isaac CLA
Paul Hooper ASAO
Chris Stockdale BAAGB
Susie Child LACORS
Kevin Pearce NFU
Andrew Taylor BLGC
Steve Biddle RHA
Stephen Ridgeway Milk Link
Libby Henson NSC
Sheila Crispin RCVS
Richard Clarke RBST
Nick Blayney BVA
Peter Morris NSA
Olivia Walter BIAZA
1. Welcome & Introduction
1.1 John Kittmer (JK) thanked stakeholders for attending. He
explained
that the aim of this meeting is to provide stakeholders with an
update on the
roll out of Bluetongue vaccine; discuss feedback on initial stages
of
vaccination and discuss the new licensing / movement requirements.
He
apologised for the technical problems with the telephone
conferencing
equipment.
1.2 He reminded stakeholders that vaccination is a devolved issue
and
asked if Stakeholders could refer specific queries to the relevant
Devolved
Administration. JK stated that there are currently over 3 million
doses of
vaccine available for use in the PZ and that Intervet have
delivered more
vaccine earlier than expected. He praised the company’s
performance to
date.
2. Disease Update
2.1 David Mouat (DM) explained that there are 127 infected
premises (66
cases in 2007 and 62 cases in 2008). He commented that the
majority of
cases this year found by pre-movement testing – and all indicated
they were
infected last year before VFP and no evidence of virus circulating
in UK yet
this year.
2.2 DM informed stakeholders that the first case of
trans-placental
transmission in a calf has been found on an IP. He stated that an
investigation
was ongoing to assess ramifications of findings (e.g. are calves
viraemic, what
is exact mechanism of infection). As yet no evidence of
trans-placental spread
has been found in sheep. These findings would feed into the EU
wide
investigation assess situation and any potential mitigation
measures. It was
agreed to keep stakeholders appraised of any conclusions.
2.3 JK reminded stakeholders that they should remain vigilant and
not to
become complacent if no evidence of disease is found in the next
few weeks.
While it would be incautious to extrapolate from evidence on the
continent,
clinical signs in the second season of infection only became
evident there in
mid-June 2007.
3. Vaccination
Delivery Schedule
3.1 Phil Reed (PR) explained that over three million doses of
vaccine have
now been released to wholesalers; 2m in 50 dose bottles, over 1m
in 20 dose
bottles. He stated this is significantly ahead of the 2m we were
originally
expecting Intervet to provide in May. He explained that further
deliveries are
expected over the summer, and as vaccine is delivered we will be
expanding
the Protection Zone (PZ) to allow vaccination in a wider area. PR
stated that
Defra are actively considering with the industry how best to
secure future
supplies and will keep the situation under review in the coming
weeks.
Rollout of vaccine
3.2 Nick Blayney (NB) updated stakeholders on the vaccine roll
out
strategy. He explained that aim of the strategy is to make vaccine
available to
all livestock keepers as quickly as possible. He reminded the
meeting that the
strategy was developed and agreed with the Core Group of
industry
stakeholders. It is designed to be flexible, taking into account
take-up of
vaccine in the PZ, arrival of new batches of vaccine into the UK,
and new
incidents of the disease
3.3 NB explained that the PZ will be extended on a county by
county basis,
as and when further vaccine becomes available. The decision of
which
counties receive higher priority for vaccine is regularly reviewed
taking into
account vaccine take-up and availability, latest epidemiological
assessment
and economic impacts.
3.4 NB stated that it is hoped that by week commencing Monday
12
th May
there will be over 4m doses of vaccine available. Anecdotal
feedback shows
initial uptake of vaccine to be high but Defra were waiting for
the official
feedback from the veterinary wholesalers.
3.5 NB reminded stakeholders that veterinary surgeons were only
able to
administer / prescribe vaccine to livestock under their care in
the PZ and it is
illegal for farmers to give / sell any spare vaccine to their
neighbours.
Stakeholder Feedback / reaction so far
3.6 Stakeholders gave their initial feedback and reaction to the
roll out of
vaccine in the PZ. The main points raised were:
·
Stakeholders stated that there had been
anecdotal evidence of
wholesalers outside the PZ ordering vaccine. Phil Reed confirmed
that
he was regular contact with wholesalers and that they are aware of
the
restrictions on the distribution of vaccine outside the PZ. [was
this a
stakeholder question or a Defra response to some
point?]
·
JK confirmed that the amount of notice
given before planned zone
moves may vary, it's a balance between the certainty we'll have
on
delivery from the manufacturers and not delaying vaccine delivery
once
available, but the roll-out plan gives the best indication of
priority order.
·
Stakeholders asked if it would be
possible to get advance notice of
zone changes and indicated that there could be issues if livestock
are
trapped at shows as a result of zone changes. JK stated that
were
possible we will give advance notice of changes, but this will
depend
on the specific situation facing us. JK confirmed that Defra will
make
show info available to the Core group when recommendations are
being considered and we will consider case by case the possibility
of
licensing where hardship arises from PZ changes during
shows.
·
Chris Dodds praised Defra for the work
on the vaccine roll out so far
and reminded stakeholders that although markets and shows were
suffering as a result of movement restrictions, the rapid rollout
of
vaccine must take priority. Without an effective vaccine strategy
they
may be no animals for shows or markets in 2009.
·
The expansion of the PZ is based on the
disease profile, availability of
vaccine, uptake and demand. The first roll-out of the PZ was
planned
for a date within the next ten days or so, depending on the timing
of the
third batch of vaccine.
·
Stakeholders should consult the
interactive map to see the extent of
the PZ.
·
The Secretary of State, together with
the Core Group, was considering
future vaccine supply over the summer, given the potential
shortfall in
England – if take-up was high. An announcement would be made
within the next few days.
Update: This announcement has now
been
made, and stakeholders are referred to the Defra website for
information.
·
There are currently three companies
producing Bluetongue subtype 8
vaccine and others are developing it. It is expected that the
market will
determine the future supply of vaccine, as is generally the case
for
prescription medicines.
·
The EU Bluetongue Directive prohibits
the use of vaccine in the SZ, as
only live vaccine was available when this regulation was agreed.
The
Commission had not yet indicated any intention to allow
vaccination
outside a PZ, although it was thinking about the issues. Defra and
the
Core Group were both confident that the roll-out strategy enabled
the
risks of expanding the PZ to be properly mitigated, as vaccine
would be
released into each expansion of the PZ..
·
Data from the 2007 June census and from
the cattle tracing system
were used as the basis for calculating the likely demand for
vaccine in
England.
4. Licensing / Movement rules
4.1 James Dancy (JD) updated stakeholders on the movement
restrictions
for vaccinated animals. He explained that:
·
Vaccination itself is licensed using two
general licences:
o
Licence to vaccinate
o
Licence to obtain
vaccine.
·
The movement of vaccinated animals under
the vaccination conditions
is also licensed – the conditions broadly summarised
are:
o
Wait 60 days after "primary course" -
i.e. 2 in cattle, 1 in sheep,
whatever is prescribed in other ruminants.
o
Or wait until length of time specified
for immunity to develop in spec
and get PCR 14 days later (spec is just for cattle and sheep
so
other ruminants can't use this – research is being undertaken
to
resolve this issue).
o
Then there are 2 other conditions
relating to "re-vaccination" (i.e.
2nd year), and VFP, neither of which are applicable
yet.
·
There is a 3 tier system for
certification of vaccination for farmers who
wish to move their animals:
o
If no intention to move animals, no
action.
o
To move to English FA or Welsh RZ, need
self certification and
lower level vet certification (i.e. return
bottles).
o
To move for intra-community, or to Wales
FA, Scotland or NI, they
must have full vet certification.
·
Vaccinated animals can still move under
other licences if they meet the
conditions - e.g. to slaughter etc.
·
Other movement conditions remain same
(e.g. slaughter timings etc),
but we did implement the 8km provision where markets/abattoirs
can
be designated as part of SZ if they're within 8km.
4.2 there was a short discussion regarding the licensing and
movement
rules. The main points raised were:
·
It was agreed to highlight on the
website that farmers need to consider
that the correct level of veterinary certification is required at
the time of
vaccine administration.
·
As not all livestock (zoo animals,
camelids etc) are tagged it was
agreed to consider removing the requirement for veterinary
certification
of each individual ear tag.
·
Claire Whitehead (RCVS) is carrying out
research into the efficacy of
vaccine in camelids. Currently the working hypothesis is that
camelids
will require 2 doses of vaccine.
·
Only sheep and cattle are permitted to
use the 35 day and PCR
condition at present. Goats and camelids etc. will only be able to
use
the 60 day condition until we get some firm data with regard to
periods
of immunity etc.
·
Due to risk of disease transmission via
trans-placental spread the EU
have introduced new legislation which makes the movement of
pregnant livestock from the PZ to the Free Area practically
impossible
– except in certain prescribed situations. Guidance on this will
be
published on the Defra website in due course.
·
Animals from the English PZ, providing
they have the appropriate
export certification, can move freely to the confluent continental
PZ and
vice versa. Stakeholders who export animals from the PZ to the
EU
were reminded to be careful that they don’t inadvertently send
livestock
to a Surveillance Zone. Full details of the EU restricted zones
can be
found on the EU website at:
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/controlmeasures/bluetongue_ en.htm
·
Camelids are subject to the movement
conditions in the Bluetongue
Regulation 2008.
·
Stakeholders queried why a general
licence applying to camelids had
been removed from the Defra website.
Update- The general movement
licence, which applied to camelids, was associated with the FMD
Order
and is no longer required, nor relevant to
Bluetongue.
5. Communications
5.1 Kevin Pearce (KP) updated stakeholders on the work of the
Joint
Action against Bluetongue (JAB). He explained that JAB has been
launched
in a bid to achieve mass vaccination of all bluetongue susceptible
animals in
the UK. He explained that the NFU was undertaking the
administration for
JAB and the initiative was supported by more than 20 organizations
from
across the whole of the livestock sector. The initiative is
supported by Defra
and Animal Health
5.2 KB stated the JAB campaign is using national and regional
media, as
well as more direct contact through farmers meetings, livestock
markets and
private veterinary surgeries. Regional offices are distributing
thousands of
bluetongue awareness postcards (40,000) and posters to help get
the
vaccination programme underway as soon as possible. He
encouraged
stakeholders to disseminate the “vaccinate don’t hesitate” message
to their
members and asked those present to contact him if there were
interested in
being involved.
5.3 Ian Hill (IH) gave a summary of the Defra and Animal
Health
communications activity which has surrounded the rollout of
vaccine. He
explained that:
·
There has been significant national and
regional coverage of the
release of vaccine including TV (BBC News 24, Sky News) and
radio
(farming today).
·
Defra have issued press releases which
have also been sent to all vet
practices in England & local authorities.
·
A DVM letter, which enclosed the JAB
postcard, was been sent to all
IPs advising them to vaccinate their flocks/herds. Each IP was
given a
unique identifying code, in order to ensure their vaccine order
is
processed as a priority.
·
All other premises with susceptible
livestock in the PZ sent a letter and
voicemail.
·
There will be ongoing Bluetongue
communications activity at the
Summer Agricultural shows and via the livestock market road
shows.
6. Any Other Business
6.1 The next meeting Bluetongue Stakeholder meeting will take
place in
late June early July when we can take stock of how the roll out of
vaccine has
been progressing.
Fields of Fire witness accounts of 2001