Welsh Government
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TB eradication programme progress report
The Minister today updated members on a number of areas where progress has been made to date in implementing the comprehensive, £27m programme to eradicate bovine TB in Wales.
A key component of the programme is the action to ensure that there’s a clear, accurate and detailed analysis of the scale and scope of the disease in Wales.
Elin Jones said:
The TB Health Check Wales will start on1st October and means 3,500 additional herds being tested in a period of 15 months ending on 31 December, 2009. In effect this means that in 15 months we will be testing herds that would have normally taken four years to test.
To date, Wales is the only area of the UK that has taken this decisive action, part of a meticulous, step-by-step campaign constructed in Wales to remove this damaging and costly disease.
At the same time work is under way with farmers and other industry partners to substantially improve biosecurity and protect herds from infection.
Another significant development is that officials have been working closely with Animal Health as a matter of priority to ensure each office in Wales meets the current target for the removal of reactors and that an action plan is in place when the 20-day target is not met.
Elin Jones said:
The developments I have announced today are consistent with the comprehensive approach we must take if we are to eradicate this disease. Government alone cannot achieve the eradication of TB. These initiatives show a collaborative approach between farmers, vets and Government with each taking a share of the responsibility to eradicate TB in Wales. This is a long term programme and this is just the beginning of our journey to eradicate TB in Wales.
The Minister also warned of the invasive growth of the disease in Wales, confirming that the 4,600 cattle were slaughtered in Wales in the period January to May 2008, compared to 3,200 in the same period in 2007. From April 2008 to 11 September 2008 expenditure on TB compensation was over £10m, compared with £6.3m in the same period last year – an increase of 59 per cent.
Elin Jones said:
This acceleration in the incidence of this invasive and infectious disease is unacceptable and unsustainable. It is further justification that we need to act quickly as a nation and unite to eradicate this disease in accordance with our commitment in the One Wales programme for government.
There is no single solution to bovine TB. I am determined that we will apply our agreed actions to tackle the disease head on to achieve eradication and achieve the health and financial benefits that it will bring to Wales.
I welcome the positive approach taken by vets and farmers to the initiative. The TB Health Check Wales will provide crucial evidence for future decisions. By identifying disease earlier and removing reactors more quickly we have a real opportunity to start to get ahead of the disease.
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