Bovine TB: 6 The Road Traffic Accident Survey
6.0.1 Future policy options may necessitate the kind of information on TB prevalence in badgers which is otherwise only available for trial areas. In the absence of a reliable test or range of tests to diagnose the infection in live badgers (and the unlikely prospect of developing such tests in the short to medium term), the ISG supports the Krebs team’s recommendation that a road traffic accident (RTA) survey of badger carcases be re-introduced. However, we have recognised that the value of the RTA survey to provide prevalence data requires validation and so have recommended that initially it be instituted in the seven counties within and around the areas where the field trial is most likely to take place. This will allow the survey’s findings to be considered alongside TB prevalence data from badgers culled in the trial.
6.0.2 The RTA survey is the only element of the programme we have recommended on which little progress has been made so far. This has been disappointing, although we accept the resource constraints facing MAFF, and we recognise the contradictions that have understandably emerged in trying to construct a survey which meets both the Ministry's surveillance needs and our own data gathering requirements.
6.0.3 During lengthy consideration of the possible ways forward, however, it has emerged that a considerable amount of data were already being generated by the informal, ad hoc collection of badger carcases by a number of the State Veterinary Service's divisional offices. In 1998, some 1200 carcases were collected and examined - a similar sample size to that envisaged for the seven counties survey. MAFF agreed with the ISG that this ad hoc work was of limited value and could be put to better use.
6.0.4 Plans have now been drawn up, at least for the interim, to re-direct this informal effort and structure it to provide prevalence data. These plans were due to be implemented this autumn, but the recent HSE prohibition notice on the post mortem examination of badgers at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) forced a further postponement. (Owing to the relatively poor quality of RTA carcases we would not recommend freezing them for future post mortem examination; in any event, this would encroach on storage space designated for badgers culled during trial operations). The VLA expect enhanced post mortem facilities will be available in the new year, and we would expect the RTA survey to be implemented after that time, within existing MAFF resources.
6.0.5 The findings from the survey will be kept under review by the Group. If it becomes apparent that information needs are not being met we will ask Ministers to re-consider the introduction of the RTA investigation originally envisaged.
On to Chapter 7 -
The wider research programme 
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Page last modified:
12 August 2003
Page published: 5 February 2003