Disease Information
30 March 2001
Vol. 14 - No. 13
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN FRANCE
Follow-up report No.
2
See also: 23
March 2001, 16
March 2001
Translation of the summary of a fax and an e-mail received on 23 and 28
March 2001 from Dr Isabelle Chmitelin, Deputy Director General, General
Directorate for Food, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Paris:
End of previous report period: 21 March 2001 (see
Disease Information, 14 [12], 63, dated 23 March
2001).
End of this report period: 28 March 2001.
New outbreaks:
Location
No. of outbreaks
Seine-et-Marne department
1
Description of affected population in the new outbreak:
suckling cows and slaughter sheep.
Total number of animals in the new outbreak:
species
susceptible
cases
deaths
destroyed
slaughtered
bov
120
1
0
120
0
ovi
200
0
0
200
0
sui
10
0
0
10
0
Diagnosis: on 23 March 2001, foot and mouth
disease (FMD) was suspected in a calf presenting signs suggestive of the
disease.
A. Laboratory where diagnosis was made: French
Agency for Food Safety (AFSSA(1)), Maisons-Alfort (on 23 March
2001).
B. Diagnostic tests used: complement fixation
test; ELISA(2); cell culture (in progress).
C. Causal agent: typing in progress.
Epidemiology:
A. Source of agent/ origin of infection: the
outbreak was discovered following an investigation by the gendarmerie showing
that the infected establishment in Mayenne department had sent sheep that had
been in contact with British sheep (link with British outbreak No. 11, in the
county of Herefordshire) to an establishment in Seine-et-Marne department on
26 February.
B. Other epidemiological details:
a) Results of serological tests on animals originating from the United
Kingdom:
To date, 4,994 blood samples have been collected, 4,966 of which tested
negative by ELISA(2), the latter originating from six
establishments that had held sheep imported from the United Kingdom.
b) Animals originating from the Netherlands:
As soon as the first case of the disease was announced in the Netherlands,
on 21 March, an investigation was conducted into movements of animals of
susceptible species imported into France since 20 February 2001. The
investigation showed that 15,787 animals had been imported between 20 February
and 5 March 2001 (date on which the last consignment of Dutch animals of
susceptible species was sent to France):
8,938 animals (7,465 pigs, 1,463 sheep/goats and 10 cattle) destined for
abattoirs located in 15 departments;
6,849 animals (4,754 pigs, 1,792 sheep and 303 cattle) destined for
establishments located in 16 departments.
Establishments holding animals at risk are subject to the preventive
measures described in Disease Information, 14 (11),
pp. 53-54, paragraph 1.1. When the above animals of susceptible species and
in-contact animals are euthanised, 1,000 serological tests are due to be
carried out.
c) Animals originating from Ireland:
The investigation carried out as soon as the first outbreak of FMD was
announced in Ireland, on 22 March, indicated that 1,254 animals of susceptible
species had been imported into France between 20 February and 2 March 2001
(date on which the last consignment of Irish animals of susceptible species
was sent to France(3)):
984 animals destined for 4 establishments located in 3 departments;
270 animals destined for an abattoir.
The establishments to which the animals were sent have been subjected to
the preventive measures described in Disease Information, 14
(11), pp. 53-54, paragraph 1.1.
Control measures during reporting period:
stamping out; setting up of protection (3 km) and surveillance
(10 km) zones around the affected establishment (in accordance with Community
and national provisions).
While awaiting more detailed results of the epidemiological investigation,
the Minister of Agriculture decided to place restrictions, with effect from 24
march, on trade in animal products at risk. Consequently, in addition to the
ban on the movement of live animals of susceptible species already in force
since 8 March, the export from France of meat and meat-based products, milk
and dairy products that have not undergone heat treatment to inactivate the
FMD virus has also been banned.
Furthermore, the Standing Veterinary Committee of the European Union,
meeting on 27 March, issued a favourable opinion on an amendment to Decision
2001/208/EC of 14 March 2001. The new decision, which will apply until 12
April 2001, contains the following provisions:
- up to 2 April 2001, the export ban on products (meat and meat-based
products, milk and dairy products) that have not been treated in such a way as
to inactivate the FMD virus and on all live animals of susceptible species,
their semen, ova and embryos, is applicable to the whole of metropolitan
France;
- from 2 April 2001, these restriction measures will apply only to
Seine-et-Marne, Val-d’Oise and Seine-Saint-Denis departments, on condition
that no new FMD outbreaks have occurred.
(1) AFSSA: Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des
aliments.
(2) ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
(3) On 1 March 2001, an order was signed banning the importation into
France of susceptible animals from Ireland.