Badgers and TB

Commenting on the open letter, signed by over 350 veterinary surgeons, sent to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the spread of bovine TB, British Veterinary Association President Dr Bob McCracken said: “The BVA agrees that the current prevalence of bovine TB, an infection which has a significant impact on the health, welfare and productivity of cattle and is also a potential threat to public health, is unacceptable. Action is required in both the short and longer term and the BVA will continue to urge and assist Government to come up with mechanisms that will result in TB being eradiated from livestock and not merely controlled.

“The number of herds affected by bovine TB has been increasing year on year for a number of years. The extent of those parts of the country which are often described as ‘hotspot’ areas is growing and the disease is continuing to spread to areas which have been free from bovine TB for decades.  The movement of cattle to restock farms which were slaughtered out during the 2001 FMD epidemic appears to have introduced infection to previously free areas, and the diminution of testing during the epidemic allowed further spread within already infected areas.

“The 27% increase in the number of cases of bovine TB in reactive cull trial areas compared with no-culling survey areas caused the trial to be suspended in these areas last year. While the findings indicated that badgers were associated with the epidemiology of bovine TB in those areas and under those circumstances, badgers are not the only wildlife species susceptible to bovine TB and the BVA would like to see further studies undertaken to understand what role, if any, other species play in the transmission of the disease.  Eradication would benefit the health and welfare of wild animals, as well as cattle.  This may necessitate the destruction of wildlife in certain areas but where the scientific evidence indicates that a culling programme will be beneficial to the control of TB, BVA will be firmly supportive. As our existing policy makes clear any new strategy needs a sound scientific base. The BVA recognises that scientific evidence implicates the infected badger in the spread of bovine TB but further research is required and needs to be funded so as to be completed as quickly as possible.  We need improved diagnostic tests, particularly for individual animals; an effective vaccine to protect cattle or badgers, and a better understanding of the transmission of infection in cattle and other species, and between species.”

“Dr McCracken concluded “the BVA believes that progress towards the control and eventual eradication of bovine TB can only be achieved by a co-ordinated approach involving all stakeholders working in partnership and I would reiterate our commitment to this long term goal.  In the meantime we await the publication of the Government’s new strategy with considerable interest”.         
ENDS

Notes for Editors

1.  For further information please contact the BVA Press Office on 020 7636 6541 or chrissien@bva.co.uk.

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