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Rabies
contingency plans mean business as usual
THE GOVERNMENT dismissed a newspaper scare story that there
would be a mass cull of domestic animals should the UK ever
face a rabies outbreak.
An article in the News of the World newspaper claimed that the
Government was stockpiling rabies vaccine after secret warnings
that terrorists were planning to release the deadly virus in
the rabies-free UK.
The article, based on an answer to a parliamentary Question
by MP Peter Luff last month to Animal Health Minister Elliot
Morley, claimed that the Government’s contingency plan
included a mass cull of wildlife and domestic animals, whilst
pet within a 50 mile radius of the outbreak would be ordered
to keep their pets indoors.
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
denied that there were any such contingency plans - pointing
to a ‘business as usual’ stance by the Government,
saying that it was far more likely that animals such as dogs
would have to be kept muzzled for the duration of a rabies outbreak.
A DEFRA spokesman also denied that there were ‘stockpiles’
of vaccine saying: "There are strategic reserves of rabies
vaccine that the Government has access to, but they would be
used sparingly and limited to infected areas."
Mr Morley’s written reply to Peter Luff pointed out the
DEFRA were revising and updating contingency plans in the event
of a rabies outbreak, based on "lessons learned" from
the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak.
Whilst stating that the cull of wildlife during an outbreak
was an option, Mr Morley said that vaccination was also a viable
and preferred control method.
Mr Morley said: "As part of the review of the contingency
plan, we are looking at the most appropriate control mechanisms
in different outbreak scenarios, and the decision-making required,
taking into account the specific circumstances and location
of the outbreak. It is likely that in most circumstances, vaccination
would be the preferred approach."
Mr Morley added that a draft rabies contingency plan would be
issued for consultation in the near future.
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