Aust Vet J Vol 79, No 8, August 2001518

News

To date the AVA has sent threeteams, totalling 37 veterinarians,to the UK on our FMD project.

Funding was provided from a range ofsources, including the AVA, Traveland, theAustralian Agricultural Company, Bayer,some State Governments, the FederalGovernment, through AFFA, and the UKGovernment, through its recently renamedDepartment of Environment, Food andRural Affairs.Once in the UK, all of the participants inour scheme were employed by DEFRA asTemporary Veterinary Inspectors (TVIs).We received 105 applications frommembers seeking to be included in thescheme. Many applicants decided to paytheir own fares to enable them to meettheir individual timetables and their othercommitments. Some other Australianveterinarians who were already in the UKat the time of the outbreak were alsoemployed as TVIs. The actual number ofAustralian practitioners involved inassisting to combat the FMD outbreak isimpossible to calculate but it is known tobe a very significant number.The practitioners complemented the 76veterinarians and 28 stock inspectors/rangers and a group of disease control staffsent by State, Commonwealth and LocalGovernments under the InternationalVeterinary Reserve.DEFRA increased its veterinary staff from220 to between 1600 and 1800 to manage

the FMD outbreak. TVIs from manycountries were employed and practitionersplayed a major role throughout.Feedback on the performance of theAustralian practitioners has been verypositive. They played lead roles indiagnostic teams, in slaughter and disposal,in appeals and in control centres.Perhaps the main benefit of the AVAscheme has been the breadth of experiencegained by practitioners. This is to beintegrated into our control and eradicationprogram. As governments downsize andthe roles of practitioners expand thisoperational experience is as valuable as thedirect exposure of our participants to thenature of the clinical disease.It seems the Australians were adept in thehandling of the disease program in sheep.It is clear that an experienced practitionerpresence in the bush will be critical to theearly recognition, diagnosis and responseshould FMD or another serious diseaseenter the continent.UK DEFRA (formerly MAFF) had beenemploying the small numbers ofAustralians who had either been there – orwho were prepared to go – in the earlystages of the outbreak. The AVA schemechanged what had been a trickle ofAustralian practitioners into a flood, asmore became aware of the important rolethey could play in the UK and in helpingto bolster Australia’s exotic diseasepreparedness when they returned.DEFRA delegated to AVA, AFFA(Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry –Australia and the UK High Commission inCanberra, the authority to selectveterinarians for the AVA scheme, ensuringfor the first time they would have a TVIposition awaiting their arrival in London.The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeonsfacilitated registration for practice and theUK High Commission and DEFRAarranged the necessary work permits.Organisation of the project within the AVA

was a significant effort involving inputfrom the Board and numerous staff. Asmall committee undertook the selectionprocess.At the time of writing, July 31, there were1906 FMD infected premises in the UKand 3.635 million animals had beenslaughtered or identified for slaughter. Theoutbreak has cost many billions of poundsand many farmers will never return to theland. Tourism has been seriously affected,especially by a countryside filled withburning pyres and devoid of animals. Theoutbreak delayed a general election.DEFRA has asked us to put AVA team fouron hold, in the hope their services will notbe required.The AVA has taken steps to capture theexperiences of the veterinarians involved,through reports, presentations, workshopsand seminars. The material will be utilisedin AVA planning, liaison with governmentsand through practical inputs intoemergency animal disease planning.There are still concerns regarding theintensive piggeries in Yorkshire and inbringing down animals from summerpastures in the mountains, something thatcould potentially reintroduce FMD ontofarms.

AVA UK FMD Team 2 Oops!It has come to AVA’s notice that one of theparticipants in our second team ofpractitioners sent to fight the UK FMDoutbreak was inadvertently omitted fromour published list of those involved.He is Dr Michael Smith, of Milawa,Victoria.The published list for team two alsoincluded the name of one proposedparticipant who, through a change ofcircumstances, was unable to go. He is DrEd Butterworth, of Mt Isa, Qld.The AVA apologises to both for anyconfusion created by our distribution ofthe incorrect information.

The following item is an overview of the highly successful AVA program to sendveterinary practitioners to the UK to gain direct experience in handling a seriousoutbreak of FMD so that knowledge could be brought home to bolster Australia’s

preparedness to protect our livestock industries from exotic disease.It was written by the AVA National Veterinarian, Dr Kevin Doyle, who was

responsible for co-ordinating the scheme.

No Exotic Bulletin

The regular quarterly two-pagefeature article, the ExoticAnimal Diseases Bulletin, does

not appear in this issue of the AVJbecause AFFA (Agriculture, Forestryand Fisheries – Australia) was unable tosupply the material for the secondmonth in succession. It will reappearwhen the relevant material is madeavailable to the Managing Editor.

AVA’s UK FMD scheme givesworthwhile results for Australia

Kevin Doyle