HPA recommends bTB precautions
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has recommended that farmers and farm workers at risk from exposure to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) take precautions to prevent the transmission of the disease after a farmer contracted the disease from livestock. Dianne Summers, who owns a small alpaca herd in Cornwall and has campaigned for increased awareness about the spread of the disease in alpacas, is currently undergoing treatment for bTB and all those who were previously in close contact with her have been offered a TB test on a precautionary basis.
Commenting, Dr Mark Kealy of the HPA said “It is important to remember that this infection is very rare in humans and mainly affects animals. For people who have close contact with an infected animal, transmission can occur by inhaling bacteria shed by the animal or through contamination of unprotected cuts or abrasions in the skin while handling infected animals or their carcasses.”
The HPA's figures show that 35 people were confirmed to have a contracted bTB in the UK during 2009. However, the HPA have also noted that bTB accounts for less than 1% of all UK TB cases. In light of the protection provided by pasteurisation and bTB-control programs, the HPA has stated that “only those who work closely with livestock and/or regularly drink unpasteurised (raw) milk who have a higher risk of catching the infection”.
The Health Protection Agency's profile of bovine tuberculosis can be found here.
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.
