DCC Generic Notifiable Animal Disease Contingency Plan
Annexe B
Foot and Mouth Disease
Contents
The contents of Annexe B on Foot and Mouth Disease must be read in conjunction with
1. The Generic Notifiable Animal Disease Contingency Plan
Annexe B only contains information that is applicable during an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease. All structures, stakeholders, roles and information that are relevant to all notifiable animal diseases are contained within the main contingency plan.
Chapter / Subject / Page1. / Introduction / 4
1.1 / Foot and Mouth Disease / 4
1.2 / Risk of Foot and Mouth Disease Spreading to the UK / 4
1.3 / Human Health Concerns / 4
1.4 / Generic Notifiable Animal Disease Contingency Plan for Devon and Annexe B on Foot and Mouth Disease / 4
1.5 / Overview of Devon County Council Role / 5
2. /
Epidemiology
/ 62.1 / Definition / 6
2.2 / After-Effects of Disease / 6
2.3 / Transmission / 6
2.4 / Clinical Signs / 7
2.4.1 / Clinical Signs in Cattle / 7
2.4.2 / Clinical Signs in Sheep/Goats / 8
2.4.3 / Clinical Signs in Pigs / 8
2.5 / Main Aspects of Disease Control / 9
3. / Legislation / 10
4. / Wider Stakeholders – Foot and Mouth Disease / 12
5. / Overview of Disease Stages and Controls / 13
6. / Plan Implementation – Devon County Council Functions and Responsibilities / 15
6.1 / Animal Health and Welfare Enforcement Function – Foot and Mouth Disease / 15
6.1.1 / Initiation and Activation – Foot and Mouth Disease / 15
6.1.2 / Management and Control – Foot and Mouth Disease / 16
6.1.3 / Stand Down and Recovery – Foot and Mouth Disease / 17
6.1.4 / Animal Health and Welfare Enforcement – Job Specification - Foot and Mouth Disease / 17
6.2 / Other Devon County Council Services –Food and Mouth Disease
Emergency Planning, Communications and Public Relations, Highways and Public Rights of Way, and Elected Members / 19
6.2.1 / Stand Down and Recovery - Foot and Mouth Disease / 19
7. / Useful Information and Advice / 21
7.1 / Advice on Writing Public Information and Advice Leaflets/Letters / 21
7.2 / Frequently Asked Questions / 21
7.3 / Vehicle Check Sheet / 25
8. / Additional Information Sources / 27
8.1 / Links to LACORS Information and Other Specific Information / 27
8.2 / Devon County Council Officers contacts and duties and other Organisations Officers contacts / 28
8.3 / Officers protective clothing and equipment / 31
8.4 / Examples of Foot and Mouth Disease signs / 32
1. Introduction
1.1 Foot and Mouth Disease
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is an infectious viral disease that affects all cloven-hoofed animals, particularly cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and deer. The disease is serious for animal health and for the economics of the livestock industry. It is one of the most infectious animal diseases. While FMD is not normally fatal to adult animals, it is debilitating and causes loss of productivity, for example milk yields may drop or the animals may become lame, these effects may be permanent. In young animals it can be fatal on a large scale.
1.2 Risk of Foot and Mouth Disease Spreading to the UK
The UK remained free from FMD for many years, but suffered an outbreak in 2001. 2,030 cases occurred between February and September that year. The causal agent for this outbreak has been identified as Type 0 Pan Asia strain.
In Britain the disease only arises as a result of imported infection. FMD is endemic in Africa, Asia and parts of South America, with sporadic outbreaks in disease-free areas. Therefore, there is a risk that the disease could enter the UK at any time, for example through illegal imports. The EU and the UK have enhanced their controls on imports of illegal meat and meat products to reduce the risk, however this risk cannot be totally eliminated.
1.3 Human Health Concerns
Advice from the Department of Health is that it is extremely rare for humans to contract FMD. There has only been one recorded incident of FMD in a human in the UK and this was during the outbreak of 1966. The general effects of this case were similar to influenza with some blisters.
The Food Standards Agency has advised that FMD in animals has no implications for the human food chain.
There is, however, a human condition called Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, which is unrelated and which does not affect animals.
1.4 Generic Notifiable Animal Disease Contingency Plan for Devon and Annexe B on Foot and Mouth Disease
The contents of Annexe B on FMD must be read in conjunction with the Generic Notifiable Animal Disease Contingency Plan for Devon.
Annexe B only contains information that is applicable during an outbreak of FMD. All structures, stakeholders, roles and information that are relevant to all notifiable animal diseases are contained within the main contingency plan.
Further details are available in the Exotic Animal Disease Generic Contingency Plan produced by Defra. This is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/control/contingency-plan.htm
1.5 Overview of Devon County Council Role
FMD is a notifiable animal disease.
The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 places a statutory duty upon local authorities to be prepared for a notifiable animal disease outbreak. The Animal Health Act 1981 (as amended by the Animal Health Act 2002) and the European Communities Act 1972 include further specific duties for local authorities in the event of a suspect or confirmed notifiable animal disease.
Further details of the duties placed upon local authorities by the Civil Contingencies Act, the Animal Health Act and European Communities Act are available within the Generic Notifiable Animal Disease Contingency Plan for Devon.
Devon will perform a range of essential duties in the event of a FMD outbreak. The role played by Devon County Council will be key to the effective control and eradication of a disease situation, and in ensuring that the needs of the local community are provided for. The Secretary of State has a certain degree of flexibility in terms of the control measures depending on the circumstances of the disease outbreak. Therefore local authorities are strongly advised to carefully examine individual Declaratory Orders.
The basic disease control policy is slaughter of all susceptible animals on premises infected with FMD, and dangerous contacts. Movement restrictions are also put in place to help contain the disease. Biosecurity is of paramount importance in control of FMD.
The animal health and welfare enforcement function within local authorities will perform a range of key duties in the event of a confirmed case of FMD. Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the Foot and Mouth Disease (England) Order 2006, which outlines the controlled zones and restrictions upon the movement of animals and animal products in the event of a FMD situation. The Order also includes requirements relating to disinfection of premises and equipment, maintenance of records and introduces a number of treatments that have to be applied to meat and other animal products from infected areas.
Local authorities will also play an essential role in ensuring that their communities are accurately made aware of the current situation and any restrictions upon activities, without causing any concern or panic. This role must be fulfilled through all feasible avenues, but particularly the animal health and welfare, emergency planning and communications functions.
2. Epidemiology
2.1 Definition
FMD is an acute infectious disease, which causes fever followed by development of vesicles (blisters), chiefly in the mouth and on the feet. The disease is caused by a virus, of which there are 7 types. Each type causes similar symptoms and they are only distinguishable in the laboratory. The 7 serotypes are; 0, A, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3 and Asia 1. The strain that affected the UK in 2001 was identified as the 0 pan Asia strain.
FMD is probably the most infectious disease infecting either man or animals, and can spread rapidly. Therefore it is important to gain control of the disease as quickly as possible. Among farmed animals cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer are susceptible. Hedgehogs, rats and any wild cloven-footed animals can also contract it.
The incubation period, the interval between exposure to infection and the appearance of the disease varies between 24 hours and 10 days, or even longer. The average time, under natural conditions is 3 to 6 days.
2.2 After–Effects of the Disease
FMD is rarely fatal, except in very young or old animals. The disease normally runs its course in 2 – 3 weeks, after which most animals recover. However, affected animals loose condition and secondary bacterial infections may prolong the recovery period. FMD therefore, has serious economic consequences. The most severe consequences are seen in dairy cattle. Milk yield will be reduced, chronic mastitis may develop and the value of the cow will be permanently reduced. Cattle may also experience abortion, sterility, chronic lameness and chronic heart disease.
2.3 Transmission
FMD is highly contagious, a very small quantity of virus is capable of infecting an animal. The virus is present in great quantities in the fluid in the blisters that the disease causes. It can also occur in the saliva, milk and dung. At the height of the disease infection the virus will be present in the blood and all parts of the body. Contamination of objects with any discharges from an infected animal is a danger to other stock. Under favourable conditions, cool and dark, the virus can survive for long periods.
Airborne spread of the disease can also occur, under favourable climatic conditions the virus can spread considerable distances. Indeed circumstantial evidence suggests that the outbreak on The Isle of Wight in 1981 was caused by airborne transmission of the virus from Brittany in northern France.
Animals pick up the virus either by direct contact with an infected animal, by contact with foodstuffs or other objects that have had contact with an infected animal, or by eating or coming into contact with the carcase of an infected animal.
Lorries, loading ramps and market places where infected animals have passed have the potential to cause infection until disinfected, as do the boots, clothes and hands of stockmen who have been in contact with infected animals. Even roads can become contaminated and the virus could be picked up on the wheels of passing vehicles. Dogs, cats, poultry, wild game and vermin can also carry the infection.
As it can be seen, FMD is highly infectious and would easily and quickly spread around the country if a disease control strategy were not put in place.
2.4 Clinical Signs
Affected animals display blisters (vesicles) on the feet or in the mouth. Other symptoms depend on the species of animal that is affected.
More information on symptoms, and pictures of infected cattle, sheep, goats and pigs are available at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/fmd/about/clinical.htm
2.4.1 Clinical Signs in Cattle
Symptoms in cattle are summarised as follows:
· Vesicles on the feet and in the mouth (tongue, gums, lips)
· Slobbering and smacking of the lips,
· Shivering,
· Tender and sore feet,
· Sudden drop in milk yield,
· Raised temperature.
In the early stages the animal will be off its food, cudding may cease, it may be blowing slightly and have a staring coat. An animal at pasture will stay away from the rest of the herd and will probably lie down. Blisters usually begin to appear within a few hours, most frequently on the upper surface of the tongue and the bulb of the heel. There is quivering of the lips and uneasy movement of the jaw, with copius frothy saliva produced.
At about the same time there is evidence of pain in the feet. The animal lies down constantly and walks very tenderly if forced to move, occasionally shaking a leg. Loss of condition is marked. Cows and heifers may also develop blisters on the teat and resent attempts at milking.
Examination of the mouth in the early stages will show the blisters. These can be found on the upper surface of the tongue, the dental pad, inside the lips and sometimes on the muzzle. Initially blisters appear as small raised areas, whitish in colour and containing fluid, they quickly increase in size until they may be the size of half a walnut. Two or more blisters may join to form a larger one, sometimes covering half the tongue surface. As the disease progresses the blisters burst and collapse leaving the skin loose and wrinkled with a dead appearance. On handling the skin is easily removed leaving a raw surface. Once the blisters have burst the temperature of the animal falls, pain decreases and the animal may begin eating again.
Blisters on the feet develop at about the same time as the ones in the mouth, or a little after, they rarely develop before. Typically they occur on the bulbs of the heel, at the front of the cleft of the hoof and in the cleft itself. The blisters on the feet usually burst fairly quickly due to movement of the feet, and then appear as a ragged tear exposing a raw surface.
2.4.2 Clinical Signs in Sheep/Goats
The symptoms in sheep and goats are summarised as follows:
· Vesicles may be found on the hoof where the horn joins the skin which may extend all round the coronet and in the cleft of the foot,