BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND GENERAL ADVICE
2.1 THE DISEASE
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is caused by a highly infectious virus which can infect cattle, sheep, goats and all ruminating animals and pigs (farm animals). It does not infect horses, people or dogs. The disease is usually spread by:-
a) direct contact between animals of susceptible species;
b) susceptible animals occupying buildings or transporters previously occupied by diseased animals;
c) close contact between stock men, healthy and diseased animals;
d) wind borne infection between animals of susceptible species.
There is a small risk that material from an infected animal could be carried on the feet or clothing of people, or on horses or vehicles and people from areas containing infected animals to previously cleanâ¬ý areas.
2.2. RESTRICTIONS WHICH MAY APPLY AS A RESULT OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE
The following is a summary of the restrictions that may impact upon the equine industry if an Infected Area is declared.
a. Horses and farm animals
Because horses are not susceptible to Foot and Mouth disease, they are not covered by the Foot and Mouth Order. This means that there is no automatic legal restriction on their movement in an Infected Area, except on or off an infected farm, and they are not included in the nationwide ban on the movement of farm animals. However, all involved in training and racing horses, either under Orders and Rules or in Point to Point races, must take all reasonable precautions to ensure that they do not inadvertently contribute to the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease amongst farm animals.
b. Infected Areas
When an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is confirmed, the Ministry declares an area around the infected premises to be an “Infected Area”. The Infected Area extends for a distance of not less than 10km radius around the Infected Place but its size may be greater if information from epidemiologists (veterinarians and scientists who study the spread of a disease) suggests that prevailing weather conditions may have caused a virus plumeâ¬ý to disseminate the disease further.
The Infected Area is defined by reference to topographical and other easily identifiable physical features which can be found on the 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey maps of Great Britain. Movements of farm animals in this area are kept to a minimum and certain other restrictions are enforced. The Infected Area is imposed by a Special Order made under the provisions of the foot-and-mouth legislation.
Infected Areas currently imposed can be found on the MAFF web site at www.maff.gov.uk
c. Controlled Areas
A Controlled Area is of much greater extent than an Infected Area and is imposed when there is good reason to believe that there has been or is likely to be widespread dissemination of the disease. Usually this occurs when potentially infected animals have been widely distributed through markets and dealers etc. Its main purpose is to enable veterinary staff to trace these animals, inspect them, require their isolation and impose restrictions on the premises of destination before they move further.
Within a Controlled Area the movement of farm animals is controlled by licence and stock markets are normally closed. A Controlled Area is normally in force for a short period but it may encompass a very wide area in order to reduce farm animal movement when the country is experiencing a major epidemic of FMD. At the time of writing the whole of Britain has been declared a Controlled Area up to and including 16th March.
2.3 GENERAL ADVICE FOR PEOPLE LEAVING AN INFECTED AREA
Persons resident on a farm, or any premises holding farm animals, in an Infected Area should avoid coming into contact with any other farm animals and should refrain from going into fields or premises where such stock may be driven later.
Before leaving the Infected Area they should:-
a) disinfect all footwear used;
b) wear clothes which have had no possible contact with farm stock – if there is any doubt the clothes should be dry cleaned;
c) wash with plenty of hot water and soap, not forgetting the hair;
d) disinfect the outside of any item that may have been in contact with other articles in general use on the farm.
People having no contact with farm animals need take no special precautions except to keep away from farm animals and to travel on main roads wherever possible.
2.4 RESTRICTIONS AND PRECAUTIONS ON OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN AN INFECTED AREA
Hunting, including the hunting and stalking of deer, point-to-point racing, the shooting, or attempted shooting at game or other wildlife, and the racing or coursing or the training for any racing or coursing of hounds or other dogs are prohibited within an Infected Area. Although horse racing is not specifically mentioned in the Order, it can be prohibited by a Ministry notice.
Any other sporting or recreational activity which could cause infection to spread in an Infected Area can be prohibited by MAFF. These powers could be invoked, for example, to prevent the holding of any recreational fixture which involved entry on land used by susceptible animals or in the vicinity of Infected Premises. The land in question must be specified in the notice and each case must be considered on its merits from a disease standpoint. This could include hunter trials, eventing, cross country rides, hacking across farmland.
The following general advice applies to activities in an Infected Area:-
a) Visits to all sites, but especially those with farm animals, must be restricted to those that are absolutely essential and then be subject to disinfection routines;
b) Persons from rural parts of Infected Areas should not go on to land where there is livestock.
2.5 DISINFECTION AND APPROVED DISINFECTANTS
A dirty surface must be cleaned before it can be satisfactorily disinfected. Dirt, essentially of organic origin, may nutralise the disinfectant and make it useless. It is therefore most important that anything which must be disinfected is first soaked with an approved disinfectant, then thoroughly washed and cleaned and finally washed down with an approved disinfectant.
You must use an APPROVED DISINFECTANT.
A list of those approved for use against foot-and-mouth disease and the dilutions at which they must be used are available on the MAFF website at www.maff.gov.uk or from your Veterinary Surgeon. Since concentrated disinfectants are very often irritant, attendants handling the disinfectant or using sprays will need to follow the manufacturers instructions, wearing protective clothing as necessary.
Recommendations for Responsible Use of Horses In a Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak
A) Horses cannot be infected with the Foot and Mouth Disease virus and are not covered by the Foot and Mouth Disease control restrictions
B) The Foot and Mouth Disease virus can be spread mechanically by contaminated equipment, vehicles, or distributed on the feet of horses or riders.
C) To reduce any risk of such indirect spread of virus by the equestrian community, stringent hygiene precautions are essential*.
D) If horses are to be moved, they must be effectively segregated for at least 14 days from all susceptible livestock. In particular, there should be no sharing of farmyards, grazing, housing, other buildings, equipment or personnel. If they cannot be effectively segregated, they should not be moved.
E) When away from home, owners must ensure that all horses avoid land where susceptible animals graze, or have been kept.
F) Whenever horses are moved, they must only be transported in thoroughly cleaned and disinfected (with a MAFF approved disinfectant), dedicated equine transport*.
G) ALL UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
*Strict hygiene precautions must include:
¨ On leaving the premises, pick out feet and clean thoroughly. Disinfect feet with a suitable, MAFF approved disinfectant, safe to come into contact with skin. The process should be repeated whenever horses return.
¨ Riders boots should be cleaned and dipped in disinfectant before and after riding
¨ Particular attention should be paid to cleaning and disinfecting vehicle wheels
Where horses are kept on premises with other susceptible livestock.
¨ Comply with farmers own disease precautions, including only leaving the premises in clean clothes.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVENT ORGANISERS
1) Cancel all activities planned on or close to land where susceptible livestock have recently been grazing.
2) Follow advice from your local MAFF DVM (ring 0845 0504141) as to whether or not the event or show is or is likely to be situated in an infected area and should take place.
3) Ensure that the protocol above is followed by all entering the venue.
4) Provide only one combined entrance and exit and ensure that all vehicles travel over a disinfectant soaked straw bed or a suitable equivalent.
5) Only horses and pedestrians should be allowed onto the venue. Dogs and other animals should not be allowed to enter.
6) All horses should be lead over a MAFF approved disinfectant soaked straw bed immediately after unloading at the venue and before leaving.
7) All pedestrians should be required to clean and disinfect footwear on arrival at and departure from the venue.
This protocol has been drawn up and agreed by:
The Animal Health Trust, The British Equine Veterinary Association, The British Equestrian Federation, The British Horse Industry Confederation The Thoroughbred Breeders Association, The Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The National Trainers Federation, The Masters of Foxhounds Association, The National Office of Animal Health, The Hurlingham Polo Association, British Eventing British Dressage Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain, The Newmarket Stud Farmers Association, Greenwood Ellis and Partners (Veterinary Surgeons), Rossdale and Partners (Veterinary Surgeons), Fellowes Equine Clinic (Veterinary Surgeons), The European Breeders Fund, The Pony Club The Horserace Betting Levy Board, The British Horseracing Board The Racehorse Owners Association, The Racecourses Association, The Jockey Club The British Show Jumping Association. The Federation International Equestre The Racehorse Transporters Association
