Contingency planning/ Who owns disease?

Question 1

Define disease

Answer 1

a pathological condition of a part, organ or system of an organism resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, environmental stress and characterised by an identifiable group of symptoms

Question 2

Define health

Answer 2

a state of physical and psycholgical well-being that allows the organism to function normally (express its genetic potential for productivity and reproductive performance)

Question 3

Define welfare

Answer 3

physical and psychological well-being

Question 4

Why are animal health and welfare important?

Answer 4

• fundamental requirement of civilised society, all animals should be treated with care, dignity, respect
• legal requirement
• optimises performance and productivity
• promotes food quality, safety and security
• protects public health
• meets cutsomer/consumer expectations
• meets farmer expectations - pride and satisfaction
• protects the environment

Question 5

What are drivers for change?

Answer 5

• FMD 2001
• GB animal health and welfare strategy in 2004
• animal welfare act 2006
• devolved powers and devolved budgets
• financial climate
• responsibility and cost sharing agenda
• animal health and welfare board for england
• surveillance 2014 review
• new rural development plan 2014
• EU animal health law
• recent food scares

Question 6

Outline the GB AHW Strategy

Answer 6

• published in 2004 after 2001 FMD
• Anderson report: the tax payer could never again bear the full cost of such an epidemic
• 10 y plan of continuing and lasting improvement in standards of health and welfare of all animals kept for food, sport, work and compnaionship

Question 7

Outline ‘economic diseases’

Answer 7

• main impact on farmer/keeper
• affects productivity and performance
• could affect welfare
• could affect food quality and /or availability
• increases production costs
• may or may not affect neighbouring populations
• could have environmental impact

Question 8

What are the 4 basic principles of infectious disease control?

Answer 8

1. keep it out
2. find it fast
3. stop it spreading
4. eradicate it

Question 9

Impacts of notifiable disease

Answer 9

• impacts on farmer/keeper
• affects productivity
• could affect welfare
• could affect food quality and availability
• increases costs (tx, lower performance)
• may or may not affect neighbouring / adjacent populations
• could affect environment
• statutory legislative framework

Question 10

What are risk factors for keeping disease out?

Answer 10

• location
• incoming livestock
• visitors
• vehicles
• feed, bedding
• wildlife
• environment

Question 11

What should a biosecurity policy detail?

Answer 11

• location
• farm design
• contagious herds/ flocks
• replacement livestock - sourcing
• intake protocol - quarantine
• C and D
• feed, bedding, water
• fallen stock
• vehicles
• visitors
• wildlife

Question 12

List disease control objectives

Answer 12

• protect public health
• protect welfare of poultry and other captive birds
• minimise the # birds to be culled
• minimise the impact on trade
• cause least possible disruption to the wider economy
• minimise damage to natural environment
• minimise burden to taxpayer and public
• achieve dz free status as quickly as possible

Question 13

When was the last FMDV outbreak before 2001?

Answer 13

1967

Question 14

T/F: it is illegal to dock bovine tails in the UK

Answer 14

True

Question 15

T/F: you are only legally allowed to dock pig’s tails if a vet deems it necessary because of a tail biting problem

Answer 15

True

Question 16

How do you decide if a disease primarily affects public interest or economy?

Answer 16

• is it infectious?
• what species are affected?
• is it zoonotic?
• does it seriously compromise animal welfare?
• is it of economic significance to farmer/owner/ nation?
• does it affect food security?
• does it affect international trade/ animal movements?
• does it affect the environment?
• is it a new disease?

Question 17

Describe a contingency plan

Answer 17

• sets out government response to a notifiable disease emergency
• systems, procedures and lines of communication for those involved in an animal disease outbreak
• for stakeholders to understand government’s response
• for operational partners to understand how their work fits into the bigger picture

Question 18

How do you ensure a state of preparedness for an incursion of exotic notifiable disease?

Answer 18

• horizon scanning
• planning (GB and national plans reviewed and published annually)
• practice/ exercises (legal requirement)
• learning through experience

Question 19

Outline exercises

Answer 19

• local exercises: each APHA office conducts at least one local full-scale exercise every two years
• national exercises: each Member State required to exercise their FMD contingency plan twice within a 5 year period.

Question 20

Emergency response - objectives

Answer 20

• to eradicate disease and regain disease free status
• to protect public health and safety
• safeguard the health and safety of those directly involved in controlling the outbreak
• to minimise the burden on taxpayer and public, as well as the ecnomic impact of the outbreak on the industry

Question 21

Key players - emergency response

Answer 21

• government (all 4 administrations)
• APHA
• other operational partners (Local authorities, public health, FSA, police, army, environment agency, RSPCS
• experts/ specialists (RSPB, wildlife groups)
• stakeholders (farming unions, vets, auctioneers)
• also - other affected groups