My bTB control Strategy - Part One

This is part one of the control strategy that I've been banging on about on Twitter; just in a bit more detail.

I would never consider myself an expert; but I've worked in disease control and wildlife management, and the following is a suggestion of how I think it should be handled.

OK, so a farm goes down with bTB.  Very sad for the farmer concerned, but actually, not very visible to the general public, unlike FMD.

The first thing that should happen is a complete shutdown of the farm.  Nothing should be brought onto the farm, or taken off it without a licence.  This in itself, could be viewed by some as a bureaucratic nightmare; and it certainly has the potential to be, BUT... it's essential that some control system is put in place and managed by a third party.  I'd suggest a vet, as that is the way it was done during FMD.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, should be moved on or off without the consent of the vet, who in turn, should make sure that the correct protocols are put in place to disinfect on and off the farm.

Every single point of entry to the farm; that means field gates, footpaths and the main entry point should have a big red sign placed on it informing people that these premises have TB and that entry is forbidden except by licence.  That of course means closing any footpath or other right of way to prevent the physical transfer of the TB bacteria.

At this point we have a completely 'locked down' farm, where nothing is moving on or off without a licence, which is only given when full biosecurity can be implemented.

Then we move on to Step Two.