The latest bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) figures available for the first 11 months of 2009, compared with the equivalent period in 2008, show the following:
England Gloucestershire Reactors slaughtered 2008 23,631 2,169 2009 23,068 2,031 New herd breakdowns 2008 3,766 273 2009 3,125 198 Confirmed new incidents per 100 test in unrestricted herds 2008 5.46 13.69 2009 4.69 10.93 Notes: 1. Data from VetNet are produced three months in arrears and the latest report available is for November 2009. Comparative 2008 data are shown up to November 2008. Therefore data cannot be provided for the last three months. 2. Data from VetNet are provisional and subject to change as more data become available. Source: VetNet—Animal Health Database
Although the apparent year-on-year reduction in bTB incidence headline indicators (despite the increase in numbers of herds and animals tested for bTB in 2009) is welcome, the Government remain cautious and does not want to read too much into the short-term disease trends, given the cyclical and multifactorial nature of bTB incidence in the endemic areas. The incidence of bTB in parts of England is still far too high for EU standards and we continue to take the fight against the disease very seriously, not least because of the serious impact it has on farmers.
We have a range of measures in place to help control spread of the disease including routine cattle testing, use of the gamma interferon blood test in prescribed circumstances, pre-movement testing, zero tolerance on movement of cattle with overdue tests and encouraging use of husbandry measures. In addition, vaccination of cattle and/or badgers is potentially a valuable tool as part of a range of measures to control bTB. A Badger Vaccine Deployment Project will take place in six high incidence areas each of 100 sq km (25,000 acres) in England, starting in summer 2010.