Originally from: MediaVets
                        
Bill

You seem to have a bee in yer bonnet WRT tests for FMD.

In this instance your hypothesis is completely wrong IMO – a major part of the absurd escalation in culling occurred because of premises being declared infected – and hence other farms being culled as contiguous and dangerous contacts – on basis of inaccurate (ie. WRONG) clinical diagnoses in sheep.

The majority of so called infected premises involved sheep and majority of these were declared infected – and culled out – solely on basis of clinical diagnosis which is notoriously difficult in sheep and this strain of FMD virus – in fact the Pirbright folk (in whom you seem to have no faith at all despite their vast experience and knowledge of FMD) declared in a letter to the Vet. Record that it was virtually impossible to make an accurate diagnosis of this strain of FMD in sheep based on clinical signs alone.

Also consider that vast majority of the vets making these diagnoses had NEVER seen a 'guarranteed genuine' case of FMD prior to being deployed in the field -and many never normally dealt with sheep at all.

The scope for mis-diagnosis/over-diagnosis was enormous – and that's just what happened when the pressure was on to cull, cull, cull based on a false premise peddled by 'mathematical epidemiologists' – despite expert opinion to the contrary – that FMD infection in sheep was widespread throughout the UK.

Andrew

Andrew Stephens BVetMed MRCVS
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