Swine Vesicular Disease - Outbreak Management
Human welfare
4.1. For guidance on health and safety and staff welfare refer to the Defra ‘Overview of Emergency Preparedness’.
Biosecurity Guidance
4.2. Anyone coming into contact with livestock or their waste, runs the risk of spreading animal diseases. Biosecurity is the prevention of disease causing agents entering or leaving a livestock premises. It involves a number of measures and protocols designed to prevent potential disease causing agents being spread from one premises to another.
4.3. Biosecurity guidance
(267 KB) to prevent the spread of animal diseases has been developed (in
accordance with legislation1) This guide, for anyone who comes into contact
with animals, refer to the Defra ‘Overview of Emergency Preparedness’.
Animal Welfare
4.4. For all involved with the keeping of livestock, there is a responsibility to anticipate problems and to take steps to mitigate the effects. Guidance will be issued by Defra to farmers in advance of, or in the early stages of, movement restrictions being put in place. If welfare problems arise, which cannot be alleviated by management or husbandry practices, farmers will be given the opportunity to move their animals under licence provided this is proportionate to the biosecurity risk. Such movements might include movement to slaughter for the food chain or to more suitable land or buildings. If it is more appropriate fodder may be taken to the stock.
4.5. If it is considered appropriate and to prevent deterioration in welfare standards, Defra will arrange the slaughter and disposal of animals via a Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme. Animals will be slaughtered in abattoirs or purpose built killing plants. On farm slaughter will only take place when animals cannot be licensed off the farm or when the animals cannot be transported e.g heavily pregnant animals or piglets. Each case will be evaluated to ensure that welfare standards are maintained.
4.6. There will be no payment made to farmers for animals slaughtered under the scheme. This is in line with the policy set out in the Government’s response to the FMD Inquiries (November 2002). This states that “experience has shown that payments to farmers under such schemes can provide a disincentive for them to take responsibility for looking after their animals, and also may create a false market”.
4.7. The Head of Sustainable Farming Businesses/ Livestock Products Division, Animal Welfare Veterinary Division and Exotic Disease Prevention and Control Division will draw up a contingency plan for such measures and will consult stakeholders on it.
Operational Procedures
Vaccination
4.8. Vaccine development is unlikely. Vaccination against this disease is not listed as a disease control measure by the OIE.
Initial Investigation
4.9. For details on operational procedures to be followed at the initial investigation stage refer to the Defra ‘Overview of Emergency Preparedness’.
Valuation
4.10. SVS holds and maintains a list of approved valuers, which is subject to review on an annual basis. In the event of an outbreak all valuers on the list will be contacted to ensure the are still eligible for approval and to remind them of their responsibilities.
4.11. Operational Instructions require all valuations of animals slaughtered for control of exotic disease only to be undertaken by a Valuer from the approved list.
4.12. In order to ensure consistency in delivery of valuation policy the Department has appointed four Monitor Valuers (these appointments are reviewed on a regular basis, at least every three years). Although initially based in London, the Monitor Valuers may visit LDCC’s as necessary, depending on the extent of the outbreak.
4.13. Defra is currently undertaking a review of animal disease valuation and compensation procedures with a view to rationalising and simplifying them. Part of this process will be to look at the case for compulsory standard valuations. This would remove the need for individual valuation by approved valuers in many cases. Such a system would help minimise the risk of disease spread by speeding up the slaughtering process and would improve the consistency of animal valuation.
Compensation
4.14. he Swine Vesicular Disease (Compensation) Order 1972
This Order prescribes compensation payable for animals slaughtered under
Section 31 of the Animal Health Act 1981, because they were affected or
suspected of being affected with Swine Vesicular Disease or had been exposed
infection.
4.15. Where an animal is affected with SVD, compensation shall be the value immediately became infected. In every other case, compensation shall be the value immediately before it was slaughtered.
Slaughter
4.16. Refer to the Defra ‘Overview of Emergency Preparedness’..
Disposal
4.17. Refer to the Defra ‘Overview of Emergency Preparedness’.
Cleansing and Disinfection of Affected Premises
4.18. Preliminary C & D will remain the responsibility of Defra and will be undertaken and paid for by Defra. Government funding of secondary cleansing and disinfection on farm premises will be subject to review and separate consultation as part of the consideration of the future funding of disease control measures.
4.19. Further cleansing and disinfection will be the responsibility of the owner of the premises and must be carried out by appropriately trained operatives.
4.20. In the case of SVD Flame guns may also be used to kill the virus on non-combustible surfaces. Sealed rooms maybe fumigated.
4.21. All surfaces should be sprayed with an alkaline disinfectant having a pH greater than 12.3 or any other approved disinfectant. The disinfectant should be washed off after 48 hours.
4.22. Treatment with a flame gun or alkaline disinfectant should be repeated after 14 days.
Restricted Zone
4.23. A restricted zone is an area where restrictions could be declared around an infected area and which can extend to cover the whole of England. If declared, movement restrictions can be placed on susceptible animals and their products as well as other biosecurity controls.
Serology
4.24. Those carrying out clinical examinations or serological sampling will do so in accordance with the requirements of Annex III of Directive 2003/85/EC (which may be varied by decisions of the European Commission).
4.25. Serological surveillance may be carried out for a number of reasons, including epidemiology and declaring surveillance and protection zones to be free from disease. Serological surveillance in support of lifting restrictions should not commence until 21 days following preliminary C & D of an infected premises.
4.26. The Institute for Animal Health (IAH) Pirbright provides the diagnostic testing service for SVD. It also cundertakes additional tests (i.e. VNT) on positive or inconclusive serology samples submitted by VLA.
4.27. IAH Pirbright offers an immediate serology capacity of up to 8,000 samples per week. Defra has an agreement with the VLA that they will provide serological testing capacity for SVD on a contingency basis of 120,000 samples per week at three laboratories.
4.28. Diagnostic testing will be carried out in accordance with the requirements of Commission Decision 2000/428/EC (which may be varied by Decisions of the European Commission).
Transport of Samples
4.29. Transport of samples should be in accordance with transport regulations and be carried out in the appropriate environment to prevent deterioration of their quality.
National Emergencies Epidemiology Group
4.30. Sufficient training has been undertaken to provide enough trained personnel to mount several epidemiology groups in the event of an outbreak of Classical Swine Fever. The intention is to have at least two veterinarians trained in epidemiology in each region.
4.31. In the event of an outbreak, the group(s) will be alerted by the NDCC and mobilised in the field as soon as disease is confirmed. The primary task of the team is to provide the National and Local Disease Control Centres with a report, which meets with relevant Commission guidelines. The team will also advise on sanitation and carcase disposal.
4.32. The composition of the groups may vary but it is envisaged that each will consist of at least:
- A senior veterinarian
- 1-2 veterinarians
- 1 member of staff from the diagnostic laboratory (Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright)
- Field staff with training in epidemiology and meteorology.
Page last modified:
August 28, 2008