Sir, As a seventh case of foot-and-mouth is confirmed. I agree with Dr Colin Fink (letter, Sept 25) and am appalled at the Government’s refusal to start vaccinating these animals against foot-and-mouth; instead it orders more to be slaughtered. The death toll is already far too high. It does seem that economic and trade considerations are being put above a commonsense and humane approach.

Prolonging the decision to vaccinate is prolonging the suffering that animals and farmers are going through. Vaccination is the sensible way forward.

PHILIP LYMBERY, Chief Executive, Compassion in World Farming

Sir, Dr Fink made many factually incorrect assertions in his letter.

It is wrong to suggest that Defra does not employ its own virologists. At the start of this year, Defra had 116. There are an additional 71 virologists at the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) to which Defra has access, and we make use of external virology expertise in peer review activities, for example.

We make continued use of advice from virologists to support our epidemiological studies and reports, including those on foot-and-mouth disease, and an extensive programme of research and surveillance activities are funded by Defra at these institutes and agencies.

Vaccination is at the forefront of our disease control policy for foot-and-mouth disease. Arrangements for possible vaccination are automatically triggered on confirmation of disease: the Forward Vaccination Centre was triggered on August 3 when we confirmed disease and was in place ready to vaccinate, by August 6, should the decision have been taken to do so.

Any decision to vaccinate is based on a veterinary assessment of risk and only if it is demonstrated that steps additional to slaughter policy may be required to eradicate the disease. On this basis, and the emerging conclusions of epidemiology investigations, it was decided on August 10 not to vaccinate.

It was wrong to assert that Defra does not have a bluetongue policy. For the past year we have been working with the industry to develop the bluetongue control plan and we have been closely involved with development of a bluetongue vaccine. However, the reality is that developing a safe and effective vaccine takes time.

Nor is it fair to state that we are not using the latest diagnostic technologies. The RT-PCR test for both FMD and bluetongue are an integral part of our routine laboratory testing approach. These tests are used to detect virus in preclinical stages.

HOWARD DALTON, Chief Scientific Adviser to Defra

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