Latest news with #ChristineMiddlemiss
Wales Online
27-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Foreign Office issues update on infectious disease warning in European holiday spot
Foreign Office issues update on infectious disease warning in European holiday spot The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has previously shared information which Brits need to know about to protect them from what has been described as the 'highly contagious' foot and mouth disease Model of a foot and mouth disease virus capsid. (Image: Martin McCarthy ) The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has now removed their warning to Brits need about what they needed to know about to protect them from what has been described as the "highly contagious" foot and mouth disease if they are travelling to Slovakia. Previously, the FCDO had warned British travellers that there were increased vehicle inspection measures, especially on freight vehicles, and the temporary closure of some crossing points on the Austrian and Hungarian borders, however they have now announced that these measures have been lifted. You can stay up to date with the wider situation by monitoring Slovak Ministry of the Interior's website (in Slovak only). For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here The UK Government had already intervened to halt the commercial import from Slovakia of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and other non-domestic ruminants such as deer, along with their untreated products like fresh meat and dairy. This measure is designed to protect farmers and their livestock. Since March 8, travellers to the UK have been banned from bringing meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, certain composite products and animal by-products of pigs and ruminants, or hay or straw, from Hungary and Slovakia following a case on the Hungarian border with Slovakia. The UK Chief Veterinary Officer has also asked livestock keepers to be extra watchful for signs of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), following recent occurrences in Hungary, Germany, and now Slovakia. The UK remains unaffected by the condition at the moment. Article continues below Human health and food safety are not at risk from FMD, yet it's an extremely infectious virus impacting cattle, sheep, pigs, and other cloven-hoofed beasts including wild boar, deer, llamas, and alpacas. It's crucial for livestock managers to maintain stringent biosecurity measures. The economic impact of FMD is also serious, with production losses in affected livestock as well as restricted access to international markets for animals, meat, and dairy products from countries battling the outbreak. UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said: "Foot and Mouth disease has now been confirmed in Slovakia, we remain in contact with our European counterparts to understand the latest situation." She also expressed concerns over the unsettling number of foot and mouth incidents on the continent, noting: "We have seen a disturbing number of foot and mouth cases on the continent, and we need to stay on high alert to the risk of disease incursion – as a government, at the border and on our farms." "Protecting animal health and minimising the risk of disease incursion remains our top priority. Livestock keepers are reminded to continue exercising the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency." Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner stated: "With disease now confirmed in Slovakia, it is clear the Government's precautionary approach to ban Slovakian imports was the right one. "The confirmation of a Foot and Mouth disease in a third European country is a serious concern, the government will take whatever action is necessary to prevent the further spread of disease. "Ensuring the safety of our livestock sector and protecting our farmers will always be a top priority. "This comes as the government announced a £200 million investment in the UK's main research and laboratory testing facilities at Weybridge to bolster protection against animal disease." Article continues below
Agriland
23-05-2025
- Health
- Agriland
DEFRA to extend bluetongue restriction zone to all of England
The bluetongue virus restricted zone will be extended from July 1 to cover the whole of England, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has confirmed. The decision will end movement restrictions for animals and allowing farmers to move cattle, sheep, all ruminants, camelids, throughout England without movement tests. The department said the move follows consultation between industry and scientists recognising that the area of England where disease has been found is now too large for movement restrictions to remain an effective and proportionate way of controlling the disease. This new approach aligns with the approach taken throughout the EU. DEFRA said it will also allow a renewed focus on resources on higher priority disease risks, which now presents a greater risk to industry, such as Foot and Mouth Disease and African Swine Fever. Bluetongue Bluetongue virus (BTV-3) is primarily transmitted by midge bites and affects cattle, goats, sheep, goats, deer and camelids such as llamas and alpacas. The impacts on susceptible animals can vary greatly – but in most cases seen since September 2024 clinical signs have been mild and animals have recovered. Many areas of England are now affected by bluetongue and safe and effective vaccines are available. Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccines are available and farmers are being encouraged to discuss their use with their vet as vaccination is the most effective way to protect livestock from bluetongue. Commenting on the decision to extend the restriction zone, UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: 'Through movement controls we have slowed the westerly spread of bluetongue until vaccines are available. 'We are now moving away from government imposed movement controls which are costly and disruptive to farming particularly those within the zones. 'An all-England restriction zone will allow livestock farmers currently impacted by burdensome restrictions to be on equal footing with rest of England. 'We encourage all farmers and keepers to discuss the use of BTV-3 vaccines to protect their herds and flocks with their private vet as this is the most effective way of protecting susceptible species. 'I urge all livestock keepers to report suspect disease. It is especially important to remember that foot and mouth disease and bluetongue can have similar clinical presentation.' Bluetongue virus is a notifiable disease. Farmers should continue to monitor their animals frequently for clinical signs and report suspicion of disease immediately. They should also make sure their animals and land are registered with Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) so keepers can be kept informed and animals easily located
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Mad cow disease case found in UK - this is what we know
Mad cow disease case found in UK - this is what we know The Government said there was no risk to public health A non-contagious case of what is known as 'mad cow disease' has been identified on a British farm (Image: PA ) A case of what is known as 'mad cow disease' has been identified on a British farm. The discovery of a non-contagious case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was identified on a farm in Essex, leading to the animal being humanely culled, according to the Government. The Government has said there is no risk to public health, as it was not intended to enter the food chain. It was an 'atypical' strand of the disease, according to the Animal and Plant Health Agency, meaning it will not affect food safety. Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss explained how the animal was tested as part of its "strict routine controls and surveillance regime." The cow was humanely culled after showing symptoms and subsequently tested positive. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Only one case was identified by the agency, and had occurred 'spontaneously'. Article continues below In the 1990s, an epidemic of BSE saw millions of cattle culled in the UK. Ms Middlemiss said: "Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE and is a spontaneously and sporadically occurring, non-contagious disease which is believed to occur at a very low level in all cattle populations. "This is proof that our surveillance system for detecting and containing this type of disease is working." BSE mainly affects cattle and can be detected by looking closely for behavioural changes. Other things to look out for include incoordination and nervousness or aggression. The latest incident comes just months after a single case of BSE was detected at a farm in Scotland. Article continues below The disease was identified on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway in December last year. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.
LeMonde
21-05-2025
- Health
- LeMonde
UK identifies atypical case of mad cow disease
A case of atypical "mad cow disease" has been found on a farm in eastern England, Britain's animal health agency said on Tuesday, May 20, but authorities said there was no food risk. A cow in the county of Essex showed clinical signs of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), as the neurologic disease is officially termed, and was culled on site, it said. The news came one day after Britain signed a post-Brexit agreement with the European Union, including a deal to reduce checks on food and plant products. BSE was first identified in Britain almost 40 years ago and has since spread around the world, causing a crisis in the beef industry. "Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE and is a spontaneously and sporadically occurring, non-contagious disease which is believed to occur at a very low level in all cattle populations," chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said in a statement from the agency. The atypical variant sporadically occurs in older cattle, while the classic form is spread when farmers feed their herds with the meat and bone meal of infected animals. This is the fourth case of atypical mad cow disease in the United Kingdom since 2015. The previous occurrence of the disease occurred last December in Scotland. The classic form poses more danger to humans, while BSE is linked to the fatal human condition Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, if contaminated meat is eaten. "There is no food safety risk" following the latest incident, James Cooper, deputy director of food policy at Britain's Food Standards Agency, said Tuesday. "There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity." The government said it had informed the World Organisation for Animal Health as well as trading partners regarding the case. "This does not affect the UK's ability to export beef to other countries," it added. Britain culled millions of cows during a BSE epidemic in the 1990s. Under the new deal with the EU, the UK will be able to sell British burgers and sausages in the neighboring bloc.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Animal culled as cattle disease found on a farm in region
A single case of atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Essex. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed that the animal showed some clinical signs of the naturally-occurring form of BSE and was humanely culled on farm. It was tested as part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (DEFRA) routine surveillance programme. SIGN UP HERE FOR YOUR WEEKLY FARMING BULLETIN BSE is a non-contagious but chronic degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of cattle. Government vets have stressed there is no risk to public health or food safety from this case. The animal - as fallen stock - was not destined to enter the food chain. Atypical BSE is a naturally occurring, non-contagious disease in cattle which occurs spontaneously. It is distinct from classical BSE which is linked to contaminated feed. This resulted in mass culls after it was discovered in the UK in 1986 before it was eventually eradicated. The last case of atypical BSE in the UK was in December 2024 in Scotland - with a total of four cases since 2015. Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: 'A single case of atypical BSE has been confirmed on a farm in Essex. The animal died on farm and was tested as part of our strict routine controls and surveillance regime. 'Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE and is a spontaneously and sporadically occurring, non-contagious disease which is believed to occur at a very low level in all cattle populations. This is proof that our surveillance system for detecting and containing this type of disease is working.' Dr James Cooper, Deputy Director of Food Policy at the Food Standards Agency said there was no risk to food safety. 'There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity. 'Consumers can be reassured that these important protection measures remain in place and that Food Standards Agency Official Veterinarians and Meat Hygiene Inspectors working in all abattoirs in England will continue to ensure that the safety of consumers remains the top priority.' Great Britain's overall risk status for BSE remains at "controlled' and there is no risk to food safety or public health. The World Organisation for Animal Health and trading partners have been informed of the case which does not affect the UK's ability to export beef to other countries. BSE is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect it, you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. Failure to do so is an offence. This applies to pet and small holder animals as well as commercial cattle.
