FMD CONTROL STRATEGIES - DEFRA PUBLISHES COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Originally from: mona parr
                        
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE CONTROL STRATEGIES – DEFRA PUBLISHES COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/050526b.htm
 
A report that investigates costs and benefits of a variety of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) control strategies has been published by Defra today.

The Cost Benefit Analysis Report (CBA) looks at a series of possible scenarios and analyses the financial impacts of a variety of responses to them, rather than revisiting the 2001 outbreak.

It considers outbreaks of different sizes; outbreaks in areas with different types of livestock; high and low virus virulence; disease control options; and resources available.

The CBA also examines control options based around the culling of animals on infected premises and epidemiologically linked holdings, plus various vaccination options.

Overall, the report suggests that vaccination reduces the size and extent of medium and large outbreaks – although at an additional financial cost in all but the largest outbreaks.

The report also indicates the overall size and cost of any future outbreaks are very likely to be less than 2001 because there are now fewer movements of livestock, we have a movement stand still and there would be an immediate national movement ban and swift implementation of the revised contingency plan when FMD is first detected.

The epidemiological and economic information the report provides, will be used to help determine the most appropriate control strategy or strategies to regain FMD-free status without routine vaccination under a range of defined circumstances, should the disease break out in the future.

The report does not, however, propose a unique single strategy for dealing with a future outbreak.

The basic disease control policy required under the new EU Directive remains the slaughter of all susceptible animals on premises infected with FMD and those identified as "dangerous contacts". However, the Directive gives greater prominence to the potential use of emergency vaccination, as an additional control measure to culling.

The Government will consider emergency vaccination as a disease control option from the start of any outbreak of FMD; on the basis of vaccinate to live, wherever possible. This is in line with the recommendations of the main FMD Inquiries.

Animal Health Minister, Ben Bradshaw said," The CBA will help us gauge which disease control option we should use in which circumstance. It will also help us plan resources for an outbreak; build consensus on when to use emergency vaccination; and generally improve our understanding of the costs of different disease control policies."

Notes for editors

1 The "Lessons to be Learned" Inquiry into the 2001 FMD outbreak commented that there had not been a "full scale updating" of the cost-benefit analysis following the 1967 FMD outbreak. The Inquiry suggested that such an update was overdue, and recommended (LL R52) that "cost benefit analyses of FMD control strategies should be updated and maintained. These should be undertaken at both UK and EU level." In its published Response to the Inquiries, the Government accepted the recommendation and agreed to undertake such a CBA for the UK. The CBA has now been completed.

2 The Royal Society Inquiry considered the issue of prophylactic vaccination against FMD in its Report. "Infectious Diseases in Livestock," published in July 2002. It recognised that routine vaccination against some diseases is possible but concluded that, at present, the considerable technical problems and the trade implications argued against changing current arrangements. Preventative vaccination is prohibited under the terms of the EU FMD Directive. The CBA therefore does not cover this option.

3 The CBA, which went out to competitive tender, was undertaken by Risk Solutions in conjunction with the English, Scottish and Welsh Rural Affairs Departments. FMD Stakeholders were consulted throughout the exercise. The Project has been steered by a group including Dr Rowland Kao, Professor John Wilesmith, Professor Brian Revell and Professor Martin Upton and the work reviewed by Dr Matt Keeling and Professor Neil Ferguson.

4 A copy of the Report and associated supporting reports, prepared by Risk Solutions, are on the Defra website: www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/pdf/costben.pdf (2.2 MB).