'No plans' for SBV movement restrictions
Farming Minister Jim Paice MP (pictured) has told the House of Commons that the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) does not intend to bring in new restrictions to control the spread of the Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) on the grounds that all currently known cases are due to infections last autumn and restrictions imposed now would therefore likely be of limited utility.
Responding to a question by Shadow DEFRA Secretary Mary Creagh, Mr Paice also confirmed that veterinary advice had led to the decision to not make SBV a notifiable disease. “We are receiving a tremendous amount of information from the private veterinary sector and, of course, samples from those in that sector and some directly from farmers, which all go into our labs for testing. As she implies, I urge all farmers to report any particular evidence. At the moment, we do not see any need for notifiability, but the matter is under review,” said Mr Paice.
Mr Paice also confirmed that the Government did not intend to 'revisit' the decision to close two Welsh Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) laboratories despite increased demand for such services in light of the threat of SBV. “However, we do not consider it necessary. As has been said repeatedly before… we believe that the overall laboratory services will be sufficient, under the reorganisation, to continue the surveillance,” he added.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
