The first speaker was Anthony Greenleaves from the local Animal Health office (formerly the SVS) at Bury. As such he was responsible for much of the work involved when BT first arrived in the UK.

He started with an explanation of the disease, confirming that it affects all ruminants; is spread by midges; is of no risk to the human population and cannot be spread from animal to animal. However, he also confirmed that an uninfected midge that bites an infected animal would become infected itself and able to spread the disease to other livestock.

He then he told us about the surveillance testing that is ongoing on the infected premises in the area and confirmed that infected animals are no longer destroyed. Finally, he told us that the use of a vaccine would be the only method by which the disease could be controlled in the future. Meanwhile restrictions had to be imposed to do the best we can to prevent further spread. As would be the case if the introduction of any infected stock to formally clear areas would risk the infection of midges there and so spread the disease.

A brief moment was allowed following his talk for questions. A farmer then introduced himself as one of the first farmers to have Bluetongue in his herd and said one that cow had been destroyed. Following subsequent surveillance, he had received the results of his tests this morning and the results were not good. They confirmed that his herd were all now sero positive. The stunned silence that pervaded the room as this was announced was as they say, almost palpable.

The next speaker was the vet Daan Derksen from Holland. In private practice, he has been heavily involved with farmers and the Dutch Govt. in their efforts to control the disease there.

He warned us that when they first had an outbreak during 2006 the effects, like ours towards the end of last year, seemed minimal, but that during the second year, 2007, the effects were devastating.

His talk was illustrated with excellent slides, showing how the disease affects sheep and cattle and explaining that other diseases show similar symptoms. This may explain why many reported incidents of the disease in the UK protection zone, have proved negative.

He explained that many of the farms in Holland would be described by most UK farmers a ‘hobby’ farms, as they have not nearly as many animals as most farms in the UK. Nevertheless, their animals are valued and farmers have been shocked and very upset by the losses they’ve had to endure as a result of Bluetongue. Not only losses of livestock but increased infertility, abortions and loss of milk yield. This is not surprising, as the disease causes a high fever and attacks the blood vessels thus causing the swelling and lesions especially to the head, feet and testicles. Although he told us one rarely sees a ‘blue tongue’!

Livestock affected are often thought to drink a great deal of water, but in fact they are often only holding their mouths in the water to cool them, as they are so painful. He explained that it is extremely important to ensure their water supply is kept clean and frequently changed for fresh water as it frequently becomes contaminated with saliva. Affected animals should be kept indoors and sheltered from the sun, which adds to their distress. Clean bedding and good soft feed is also essential.

He included information about the midges that can become infected and cause the disease. He paid tribute to Dr. Rudy Meiswinkel, who’s experience gained over many years in tackling the disease in South Africa has been so helpful. Showing us how his special equipment has been used to trap and confirm the type of midge causing the disease.

He confirmed that vaccination has long been used successfully in South Africa and other countries, including Europe. However, it has to be the right vaccine as there are so many different serotypes. For the UK we need a vaccine to prevent BTv8 and at present, no other serotypes although they are present in other parts of Europe.

Daan also confirmed that vaccination would be the only way to control the disease. (NB. Subsequently we were told Holland has not yet ordered any vaccine. I would have liked to ask why but there were more important questions for which I hoped we would get answers!) His talk was very interesting and often interspersed with his amusing comments although he quite seriously assured us this disease was ‘no joke’ and was likely to have very serious consequences unless we vaccinated as soon as possible.

During the following time for questions he was asked if the use of dips and sprays would help prevent infection. It was amusing when he explained that he doubted they had much affect. Adding that some farmers in Holland had almost ‘drowned their sheep in dips’ several times last year and yet they still became infected with Bluetongue!

He was also asked if the vaccine could be easily administered by farmers. He explained that it could but that farmers would need to work closely with their vet and understand how important it was that each animal be injected with the vaccine properly administered to provide adequate protection.

We were also warned of the risk of spreading BT by using the same needle, when vaccinating animals to protect from other diseases. So a clean needle should be used for each animal in these cases.

The BT vaccine would provide protection for one year and thereafter an annual booster would be required. A single dose for sheep and two for cattle would be needed.

Dan was also asked if grazing stock on high ground to avoid the midges would be preferable to lowland pasture if available. There was much amusement as he mentioned that although as a whole Holland was a lowland country, he had heard that midges can fly and bite on pretty high ground in the hills of Scotland, so it would probably make little difference to the risk!

Then came the turn for Kevin Pearce, Head of Food and Farming for the NFU.

He started by explaining further the necessity of the present control strategy being maintained although he is well aware of the dreadful hardship it has and is causing farmers in the protection zone and elsewhere.

He explained that although nothing is decided yet it looks as though a voluntary policy for BT vaccination will be the most likely policy. It would be a ‘Control’ policy not an ‘Eradication’ policy.

However, he explained that once we had the vaccine and it was used throughout affected countries in Europe it could become an ‘eradication’ policy. To my astonishment, he then said, ‘as it could also be for FMD’!

As we all knew the UK Government has ordered 20 million doses of vaccine from Intervet. Kevin told us that would be enough to vaccinate the livestock in England and although Wales had ordered another two and a half million doses, he thought they would need to order more for all the livestock there. As for Scotland, they were rather dismissed as another country! Although, if they didn’t vaccinate it might affect trade with the north of England. (NB. I have already asked my MSP to lobby for BT vaccine to be ordered for Scotland).

We were told that Intervet expected to deliver the first 2 million doses in May and they would be offered immediately to farmers first affected in the protection zone. From there as further deliveries took place over the coming weeks they would be available for use to continue vaccination towards the edge of the present zone. The zone would therefore gradually be extended to cover the whole of England and one presumes, would then include Wales. Farmers would order and pay for the vaccine from the vaccine bank via their vet who would advice and sign their medicine book once assured the vaccination of stock had taken place. As the zone extended, the movement restrictions would be lifted. He was asked the likely cost of the vaccine and we were told perhaps 75 pence per shot.

I asked if as the EU had said they would pay for the vaccine and 50% of the administration costs for the first year, providing each country had an approved vaccination policy, could that not happen and thereafter farmers have to bear the costs? Kevin responded by explaining that nothing had been finally decided yet but it had not been ruled out. He further explained that we would only recover 27 pence in the pound and would have to ask the treasury to fund it initially. He drew our attention to the meeting in Brussels on 16^th January that he would be attending, when the vaccination strategy would be discussed, although not necessarily decided, as all further suggestions should be submitted for consideration before the end of January.

A member of the audience asked how the midge might have arrived here? Daan Derksen was asked to reply and told us that everyone was surprised by the arrival of BTv8 in Europe. Many suggestions for its mode of transport had been submitted, such as via the wind, due to global warming, to imported flowers and vegetables, horses etc. but we will probably never know. Nevertheless, we have to try to control the disease now and our best hope is vaccination.

A member of the audience said that if things were not sorted out before the Tup Sales next year, it would be the end of sheep farming in the UK. Kevin responded that they were well aware of the disastrous affect the restrictions imposed to try to prevent the spread of both FMD and BT had had on the farming community and he indicated that the regulations and legislation would have to be changed.

I wonder if that change will apply to FMD too!
The meeting was brought to a close just before 10.00pm