Scottish regional resilience partnerships' framework for exotic notifiable animal diseases contingency plans

Appendix K: Swine Vesicular Disease (SVD)

K1. Introduction

Swine Vesicular Disease ( SVD) is a disease of pigs and was first identified in Italy in 1966 and outbreaks have mostly been in Europe. There were numerous outbreaks in GB in the 1970s but the last case was in 1982. The disease presents with blisters on the snout and feet and it is impossible to distinguish it from Foot and Mouth Disease ( FMD) on inspection.

The Scottish Government's response to a SVD outbreak is outlined in the Scottish Government's Exotic Diseases of Animal Generic Contingency Framework Plan. The SVD Control Strategy contains a more detailed response to SVD and can be found at www.gov.scot/swinevesiculardisease. During an outbreak of SVD in Scotland or elsewhere in GB the SVD web pages will be supplemented with additional information specific to the disease outbreak.

K2. Legislation and National Contingency Plan

K3. Possible Impact

The disease is clinically indistinguishable from FMD and each report case must be treated as suspicion of Foot and Mouth Disease with a Temporary Control Zone under FMD Legislation. The consequences are that the impact would be felt beyond the pig sector. There would only be a moderate impact on the wider rural community mostly as a result of Foot and Mouth Disease alarms. Once the disease was confirmed as SVD, the scale of the response would be significantly less than that for Foot and Mouth Disease.

K4. Public Health

Human disease does not occur but laboratory workers have been known to seroconvert.

K5. Risk of Introduction of Infection and Spread of Disease

The greatest risk factor for introduction of disease is pigs eating contaminated pork products. Disease can also enter the country via imported pigs, contaminated vehicles, personnel and animal products. Control measures are in place to prevent introduction of disease by restricting imports from high-risk areas.

Pigs can be infected via direct contact with diseased pigs, by contact with lorries, market places, and loading ramps - in or over which infected animals have travelled - or boots, clothing, and hands of a stockperson who has attended diseased pigs. The disease is not as infectious as Foot and Mouth Disease.

K6. Lead Responder Control Measures under Statutory and Regulatory Powers and Responsibilities

K6.1 Local Authority Principal Role

• Enforcing Animal Health and Welfare Legislation.
• Enforcing movement restrictions.
• Enforcing of cleansing and disinfection requirements.
• Erection of signage and dissemination of guidance and information.
• Stand down and recovery.

K6.2 Animal and Plant Health Agency ( APHA) Principal Role

• Respond to and investigate all reports of suspect notifiable disease.
• Lead agency in the instigation of local response to disease outbreak.
• Convene the NDCC, LDCC and FOB
• Supervise the welfare of animals being culled
• Surveillance and blood sampling of animals to demonstrate absence of disease and thus gain recognition of disease freedom.

K6.3 Scottish Government Principal Role

• Ensure necessary legislation is in place.
• Make and disseminate policy decisions.
• Make and disseminate guidance and information on disease control.
• Communicate with field staff and enforcement bodies (such as local authorities).
• Handles policy issues as well as share disease control developments with SGoRR, NDCC, other UK Rural Affairs departments and the EU.

K6.4 Following Suspicion of Disease

• A restriction notice is served on the suspect premises and if examination of animals cannot rule out Vesicular Stomatitis and FMD, Scottish Ministers would impose a FMD Temporary Control Zone.
• This would restrict the movement of susceptible animals, non-susceptible animals, vehicles, certain personnel, and products likely to transmit disease on and off livestock holdings.
• Disease may be confirmed within four hours but in some circumstances it may take 4 days; consequently a negative result normally takes 4 days.

K6.5 Following Confirmation of Disease

• There is no provision under existing legislation for a national movement ban.
• An Infected Area, consisting of a Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone will be established.
• The Protection Zone will be at least 3 km from the Infected Premises and the outer boundary of the Surveillance Zone will be at least 10 km.
• The Infected Area measures will include movement restrictions and enhanced biosecurity.
• Some movements will be allowed under a general or specific movement licence according to risk assessment. A central cleansing and disinfection point would be necessary but the throughput would be much less than that for Foot and Mouth Disease.
• Public access to land will be prevented only on farms where disease is believed to exist.
• Footpaths in the Infected Area will remain 'open' except on the infected premises.
• All pigs on Infected Premises and those considered to be Dangerous Contacts will be destroyed.
• The preferred methods of disposal will by commercial rendering or incineration.

K7. Control Zones which may be declared