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Monday 1 October 2012

USA restricts EU germplasm - Schmallenberg risk


This is the kind of restriction that meets our enthusiastic approval. 

International germplasm movements are simply not worth the risk. Breeding stock salesmen and itinerant veterinarians dislike that kind of restriction, but their needs have to come second to stopping rather than just coping with devastating epidemics.

In the absence of any reliable information, and in view of the ridiculous black propaganda, we can be pretty certain that germplasm, including live movements, caused the initial outbreaks of Circovirus, CSF and FMD in Britain and much more significantly that the true cause was known by the government veterinarians. 

If they can’t be trusted to tell the truth, they and their ilk certainly can’t be trusted with importing and exporting germplasm or regulating such movements.


Schmallenberg Virus Detected in Wales
September 28, 2012
Schmallenberg virus (SBV), a virus that affects cattle, sheep and goats has been detected for the first time in Wales, the Welsh Government has confirmed.

SBV antibodies have been discovered in three cows and one calf. The virus produces fever, diarrhea and loss of milk production in adult cattle, though animals recover. It is thought to pose no risk to humans.

In February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued an import alert placing additional restrictions on shipments of ruminant germplasm originating from the European Union (EU) and countries that are not formally part of the EU but that follow EU legislation. These restrictions were put into place to temporarily address the emergence of SBV in seven EU countries and believed to be distributed throughout other parts of Europe.

APHIS is negotiating new protocols with the EU that will incorporate additional risk mitigations for SBV and that will facilitate exports of germplasm collected in the future.