Think the worst, first

The worst certainly appears to have happened in the UK with the nationwide spread of Foot and Mouth Disease: 75 cases had been confirmed and over 250,000 animals slaughtered in the first two weeks of the crisis. A crucial element in detecting and dealing with diseases as virulent as FMD is that the worst should be suspected from the very outset. If the worst scenario is ruled out from the very beginning then there is time to deal with the less serious possibilities. The recent outbreaks of FMD, and also the incidence of Swine Fever affecting pigherds in the eastern region of the UK, have highlighted the need for effective surveillance and early warning procedures to be in place. However, legislation is not in itself sufficient if farmers and veterinarians are not prepared to expect the worst. Valuable time can be lost if farmers delay in reporting anything they think might be suspicious or vets fail to take appropriate samples from the beginning, as was reported in the recent outbreak of the same pan-Asian 'O' strain of FMD in Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa in September 2000.

As continental Europe reels from the implications of the outbreak spreading beyond the UK, the important issue is not where to lay the blame but what lessons can be learned for the future. Southern African meat producers have been reported to have lost more than $257.7 million in meat exports due to continuing bans imposed on South Africa and Swaziland. In the UK, the immediate ban on exports and restriction on movements of animals has resulted in an estimated loss of £21 million in the first week of the crisis alone. According to FAO Animal Health Officer, Roger Paskin, several of the seven serotypes of FMD that occur around the world are currently endemic in many parts of Africa and Asia with outbreaks also occurring in Latin America and the Caribbean. And, with the recent occurrence of this particularly virulent strain of FMD outside the Asian continent, there is a great risk that these disease incidences are likely to increase, particularly as the movement of people and goods around the world continues to increase.

Illicit trade has already played a role in the spread of the pan-Asian 'O' strain of FMD. The most likely source of the virus in the UK outbreak, as in South Africa, is from food used in pig swill. Despite existing strict regulations on the treatment of food for use in swill, there are now calls for the feeding of swill to pigs to be banned altogether. But the illegal transport of animals, which has been reported after the imposed ban on animal movements in the UK, has probably also contributed to the spread of the disease. (see also news Facing up to Foot and Mouth).

Across Britain, thousands of slaughtered pigs, sheep and cattle have been burnt on giant pyres and more will be destined for this fate as further cases are confirmed. Currently slaughter of infected and suspect animals remains the only option for countries that want to resume exports as soon as possible. Although vaccines against FMD are available, they are made from whole, killed virus (inactivated) particles which means that tests are unable to distinguish between infected and vaccinated animals. In addition, animals vaccinated with these vaccines can simultaneously also harbour the live virus for up to two years and pass it onto unvaccinated animals: this is a considerable disadvantage for a nation eager to regain its place in the export market. The same situation exists not just with FMD but with other viral diseases, such as Classical Swine Fever. Over 65,000 pigs were slaughtered in UK in order to eradicate this disease as a result of outbreaks in August-November 2000.

Furthermore vaccines offer only short-term protection, and different vaccines are required for protection against the various different strains of the FMD virus. A new marker vaccine currently being developed by the US Department of Agriculture may offer a solution. This uses genetic information for the foot and mouth viral coat inserted into live human adenoviruses. As the adenoviruses contain the genes for only a few foot and mouth viral proteins, tests can be used to distinguish between vaccinated and infected animals. However, this vaccine is still being developed and is unlikely to be available in the immediate future.

At March 7th 2001 all suspect cases in France, Belgium and Denmark had been confirmed as negative. However, as a further precaution, the EU Standing Veterinary Committee has banned all farm livestock markets and restricted movements between farms for one week in the 15 countries of the European Union. Given the incubation period of the virus, it is likely that further cases of FMD will be confirmed in Britain but even when the worst is over, the emotional and financial scars will take time to heal, and the fear and uncertainty will remain.

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