The Risk of Foot and Mouth Disease Transmission Posed by Public Access to the Countryside During an Outbreak.

Harriet Auty,George Gunn,Dominic Mellor,Lisa A Boden

doi:10.3389/fvets.2019.00381

Harriet Auty, George Gunn + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00381

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Abstract

During the 2001 UK FMD outbreak, local authorities restricted rural access to try to prevent further disease spread by people and animals, which had major socio-economic consequences for rural communities. This study describes the results of qualitative veterinary risk assessments to assess the likelihood of different recreational activities causing new outbreaks of foot and mouth disease, as part of contingency planning for future outbreaks. For most activities, the likelihood of causing new outbreaks of foot and mouth disease is considered to vary from very low to medium depending on the control zone (which is based on distance to the nearest infected premises), assuming compliance with specified mitigation strategies. The likelihood of new outbreaks associated with hunting, shooting, stalking, and equestrian activities is considered to be greater. There are areas of significant uncertainty associated with data paucity, particularly regarding the likelihood of transmission via fomites. This study provides scientific evidence to underpin refinement of rural access management plans and inform decision-making in future disease outbreaks.

Highlights

Contagious diseases of livestock have the potential for significant impact, on the agricultural industry and the wider economy and on society
Foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) is both transmissible and able to persist in the environment [1, 2], meaning that control strategies must aim to prevent transmission via fomites as well as direct contact
A search of the scientific literature published in peer-reviewed journals was done using the following search terms: “foot and mouth disease” and: “wildlife”; “transmission”; “fomites”; “environment”; “survival.” Important references were identified in key review papers [12,13,14,15]

Summary

Introduction

Contagious diseases of livestock have the potential for significant impact, on the agricultural industry and the wider economy and on society. Foot and mouth disease (FMD) has the potential for substantial societal impact; control strategies rely on mandatory slaughter of infected and in-contact animals and restrictions on movement and trade of susceptible livestock species [3, 4], but may require restrictions on the activities of non-susceptible animals and people, who may transmit the virus mechanically. During the 2001 UK foot and mouth disease outbreak, UK local authorities took a precautionary approach to disease control and used blanket bans to close all footpaths, even in uninfected areas, to try to prevent further disease spread by people and animals. These measures had major socio-economic consequences for rural communities [5].

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