Re: Have you heard the news today?

Originally from: Bill
                        
I was looking at the B.B.C. this morning to see if there was anything about the suspected FMD in Cornwall. Nothing, but there was quite a bit about beef exports to Europe being resumed today.

Fair enough, but the next time it all goes horribly wrong don't start whinging!!!

Bill.
                        

Originally from: David
                        
William,

I had an email from the USA saying the first test was clear

David

Originally from: MargotM
                        
Yes and it was on annanova yesterday afternoon too.

Originally from: Bill
                        
David,

That would have been the ELISA test for antibody. The virus neutralisation test result will be another 2 or 3 days.

If the blood sample is taken within the first 5 days of infection the ELISA test will always be negative. They should also be running a virus neutralisation test to try to detect virus which can be in the blood for up to 5 days.

However DEFRA seem to have abandoned testing for virus and run the virus neutralisation test the other way round to do a second test for antibody.

There is therefore good reason to expect the second test will also be negative.
It could be they don't have the skilled technicians to run the test the right way round or it could be the tests have been rigged to maintain "disease free status".

As I said "Fair enough" but the consequences will always be a catastrophic epidemic now and again.

Bill.