Jiglu: Farmtalking: Discussion: new book on fmd

Originally from: Peter Greenhill

A new book just published is worth the £20. By Dr. Abigail Woods the titile is "A MANUFACTURED PLAGUE" published by Earthscan ISBN 1–84407–080–8 for hardback, -081–6 for paperback. dr. Woods recounts the whole history of FMD in the UK and lays out in a fairly clinical style the various attempts to control what was considered a fairly mild and non fatal animal disease.

That was, of course, until Defra got its sweaty and blood stained hands on the issue. It is readily apparent that politicians have learned absiolutely nothing. What happened in 2001, also happened 100 years before

Peter

Originally from: Bill

The point always missed is that FMD has serious consequences for humans, especially infants, if milk is drunk from an infected cow. This is why an outbreak of the disease is traditionally accompanied by an outbreak of panic.

However, since the late 19th century, bulk collection of milk dilutes the concentration of virus (with milk from uninfected cows) and Pasteurisation kills leucocytes so the virus cannot replicate.

Unfortunately the author of this, yet another, new book on fmd has failled to properly research the history of the disease.

Bill.

Originally from: Farmtalking

Hello Bill –

In fact I doubt the serious consequences you mention have been missed at all! As you point out, pasteurisation diminished that risk.

The 'panic' you speak of has nothing to do with the infection, as we have known for many years, even prior to the availability of an efficacious vaccine, that some infected animals can, did and still do, recover from the disease.

The 'panic' has much more do to with the desire to retain 'FMD free status'. In fact, as such, it is the only valid reason for such panic.

There are quite a few of us, including Abigail Woods, who don't believe the 'panic' is necessary at all.

Our Government's insistance on retaining our FMD Free Status, failure to adopt a vaccination policy and persistance in a cruel and costly slaughter policy, is the only cause of such 'panic' and as such is a complete disgrace on compassionate, financial and by no means least, moral grounds.

Originally from: Farmtalking

'A Manufactured Plague' by Abigail Woods has been advertised on the Farmtalking website since first published. Find it here – http://www.farmtalking.com/books_10.htm
If bought via the internet the price is reduced to £17.99

Alternative means of purchase are as follows –

CONTACTS

Earthscan
8–12 Camden High Street
London
NW1 0JH
UK

Originally from: Bill

There was a suspicion in 67/68 and 2001 that there were two strains on the loose. One possibility is that FMD is always rattling around (ticks can carry the virus which can survive in tock eggs) and an epidemic results when a second strain comes along.

There's a similar theory about AIDS. HIV infects but the patient doesn't develop AIDS until infected by a second strain.

Bill.

Originally from: Peter Greenhill

CORRECTION PLEASE

In respect of my note regarding Dr. Abigail Wood`s book " A Manufactured Plague please note that the comments about the book were entirely my own and not those of the author.

Peter Greenhill

Originally from: Farmtalking

Hi Bill!

Author wrote:
There was a suspicion in 67/68 and 2001 that there were two strains on the loose. One possibility is that FMD is always rattling around (ticks can carry the virus which can survive in tock eggs) and an epidemic results when a second strain comes along.

This would seem to confirm the the fact that there's all the more reason use vaccination as a prevention policy.