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Overview
The present outbreak affects
animals and from the evidence available, there is no reason to suggest
that there will be a transfer to humans!
The restrictions the Government has put in place, many of which are
backed by Law, may inconvenience many people but they are logical. If
consideration is given as to how this virus, the Pan Asian O strain,
became rampant in the UK, the restrictions are given more reason as
to why they were imposed.
The virus emerged in India in the late 1990s, spread to Nepal, Bangladesh,
Iran and Tibet to the Middle East and eventually to Greece - the first
European country affected last year. The means of transmission are not
easily controlled and some ways cannot be controlled. If an infected
animal brushes against a hedge and that part of the hedge comes into
contact with another passing animal or a human, both these contacts
will spread the virus if proceeding to a farm containing susceptible
animals. The virus is also carried on shoes and car tyres, that is why
so many TV pictures show people dipping their boots in disinfectant
and cars running over containers of disinfectant.
The wind can play a part also. It is reputed that the virus can travel
100 miles by that method. Do not believe that the present inclement
weather will help us, even at the temperatures which have been reached.
(NW Scotland - first week of March reached -19º). We appear to be at
the beginning of the outbreak - not unfortunately at the beginning of
the end of it. The watchword is: "DO NOT WALK IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
TODAY".
It is ironic that the 'Meat and Livestock Federation' was to arrange
a day's symposium next April in England, the subject selected was "Disease
in Pigs". What can and should be done to prevent "the next time"; which
assuredly will arrive (See article in the Times - 04/02/01).
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