This is the first time we have seen this new research and the conclusions are absolutely right, except that it was much more than 20 million sterling and the problems started much earlier.
But more importantly, it is British and American universities (Nottingham and Pennsylvania State University), working together to re-investigate aspects of the 2001 British Foot and Mouth epidemic and publishing the lessons.
Even more importantly, it is given publicity by Pig World.
Britain's agricultural ministry's Defra's iron grip on the farming media is starting to slip.
Once, Britain relied instead on very capable, personable and experienced managers making on the spot decisions and having the gravitas, experience and self-confidence to change them as necessary as the situation developed. It was indeed the adaptive management system, although we were more accustomed to call it "commonsense."
It worked. You saw something like that in Ottawa earlier this week.
"Cometh the hour, cometh the man."
Pre-set emergency plans came in with the EU, and they don't work. Only a substandard manager would even want to work them.
In 2000, we were apparently penalised for being in the vicinity of CSF infected farms, it was true we were in the vicinity. But, not only were our pigs clean (confirmed by government test) but the real reason was that we refused to allow a very senior government veterinarian from Scotland to force us to cooperate with her in faking tests. She threatened my wife for politely refusing.
We complained, concerned that an impostor was on the loose during an epidemic. Nothing was done, except more threats from the top of MAFF. (MAFF was then the name of what is now Defra.)
MAFF then mounted a punishment killing of the pigs followed by a cover-up. The resulting investigation was transfered to Edinburgh at the insistence of MAFF and, without participation by us, exonerated all those involved, as you would expect.
Britain would need more capable and honest officials to run an adaptive management system. We don't have them at the top of the government veterinary service. They are still covering up zoonotic disease spreading to humans..
But Defra's infrastructure of cronies, dependents, dubious charities, libellers, stalkers and supporters is now crumbling.
The very informative 'Pig World' article is here. Be sure to read in full.
