Q&A: Foot-and-mouth vaccination

Is there a vaccination for foot-and-mouth disease?

There is a vaccine for the O strain in the current outbreak. It takes 10 days before it starts to work and three weeks before fully effective with repeat shots needed to maintain immunity.

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Why is it not used all the time?

The EU has a policy of non-vaccination to protect its members' "foot-and-mouth-free" status, which is given to those countries that do not have the disease and do not vaccinate. Disease-free countries will either not import livestock and meat from those without "foot-and-mouth-free" status or will impose tough restrictions.

What is the problem with vaccinations?

Vaccinated animals carry antibodies which make it hard to test whether the foot-and-mouth is present and they can still be carriers say critics.

Thierry Chillaud of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) says vaccination can actually increase the risk, with the virus liable to escape from laboratories and the risk of flare-ups when it is not administered properly.

Who is pushing for vaccination?

The Dutch were horrified by images of the British cull and quickly moved for EU approval for a limited vaccination programme.

In Britain the government says stretched resources slaughtering and disposing of livestock are behind the change in policy.

The UK's Elm Farm Research Centre, which promotes organic agriculture, says vaccination is better for animal welfare, rural morale and, it argues, is more efficient in combating such a highly infectious disease.

How are vaccinations used?

The Dutch and British are seeking to "ring fence" infected farms, vaccinating animals around infected sites. When the outbreak is over, vaccinated animals could be slaughtered.

"Foot-and-mouth-free" status can be restored three months after the last vaccinated animal is killed or after a disease-free year.

What other methods are used?

The United Kingdom had sought to fight the outbreak through culling -- killing the whole herd when animals developed the disease and later slaughtering healthy animals for three kilometres around infected sites. The carcasses are then buried or burned.

This has been criticised as cruel and ineffective where animals are not being killed quickly enough to stop the spread.

Where else is vaccination used?

Foot-and-mouth is endemic in much of the world with the vaccine mainly used in places such as Asia which are seeking to become foot-and-mouth free -- Indonesia managed to do this.

Albania and Macedonia fought outbreaks with vaccination in 1996. In many African countries which are too poor to afford the vaccine and are not big exporters of meat, farmers just live with the disease.

Europe turning to virus vaccine
March 28, 2001
British crisis team tackles virus
March 25, 2001
EU may tag all farm animals
March 23, 2001
Europe alarmed by spread of virus
March 13, 2001
Foot-and-mouth reaches Netherlands
March 21, 2001
Foot-and-mouth hits France
March 13, 2001

Elm Farm Research Centre
OIE
Dutch Ministry of Agriculture
British Ministry of Agriculture

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