It seems that someone else can contemplate another vector other than backward flying, wind and geography defying midges.
It was the immediate past president of the OIE that first chastised Britain for failing to report circovirus for listing more than a decade ago. That was immediately before the disastrous CSF and, Foot and Mouth epidemics.
Defra, once MAFF, Britain's infamous agriculture ministry, amongst many inane pronouncements, did not even know the geography of Britain. That's what comes of relying on PR bunnies rather than blue chip professionals to handle your "blame someone else" propaganda.
Britain's hopelessly corrupt veterinary establishment are well on their way to total disaster. It is time for the young bloods to throw the pompocrats out and take over. Fortune favours the brave.
Full OIE media release here
OIE technical meeting discusses risks related to Schmallenberg virus and international trade
Paris, 15 May 2013 - The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)organised on May 7-8 2013 an informal technical meeting on the risks related to trade in live bovines and small ruminants, their germplasm and products from countries where Schmallenberg infection is present.
Participants in the meeting included OIE experts Prof Steven Edwards (Chair of the meeting and previous chair of the Biological Standards Commission), Dr Ann Brigitte Cay (Belgium), Dr Peter Kirkland (Australia), Dr Toshiyuki Tsutsui (Japan), representatives from Belarus, the Federation of Russia and Kazakhstan. Dr Francisco Reviriego-Gordejo, from the Directorate General for Health and
Consumers of the European Commission and Dr Kazimieras Lukauskas OIERepresentative in Moscow, as well as several officers from OIE Headquarters attended as observers.
The meeting allowed the participants to share views on the potential risks of spread of the Schmallenberg virus through international trade in relevant animals and animal products…
...The request by Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus to the OIE to consider Schmallenberg infection as an OIE-listed disease has been officially given to the OIE Director General. The Director General will transmit the request to the relevant bodies for a new examination, following again the official procedures.
After the meeting some new national measures including on semen and embryos have been taken in accordance with a part of the current OIE guidelines.
