Top vet calls for more robust surveillance

The continued spread of the Smallenberg virus affecting lambs across the southern counties of England was highlighted by British Veterinary Association president Carl Padgett this week as a prime example of how important it was for the UK to have a robust surveillance system.

Speaking in London with Secretary of State for Agriculture Caroline Spelman in the audience, Padgett said vets struggled to understand the mixed messages coming from government.

First it had been announced that there would be significant changes to the veterinary laboratory network and then it had been announced there would be a review group on surveillance.

“This seemed to be a clear case of putting the cart before the horse,” he commented.

Padgett urged the government to “slow down” and give the review group time for full consideration and to listen carefully to its recommendations.

He warned: “Decisions made now will impact on our future ability to deliver that first line of defence and if we lose the infrastructure of our veterinary surveillance system it will almost certainly be impossible to rebuild.”