A report that investigates costs and benefits of a variety of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) control strategies has been published by Defra today.

The Cost Benefit Analysis Report (CBA) looks at a series of possible scenarios and analyses the financial impacts of a variety of responses to them, rather than revisiting the 2001 outbreak.

It considers outbreaks of different sizes; outbreaks in areas with different types of livestock; high and low virus virulence; disease control options; and resources available.

The CBA also examines control options based around the culling of animals on infected premises and epidemiologically linked holdings, plus various vaccination options.

Overall, the report suggests that vaccination reduces the size and extent of medium and large outbreaks - although at an additional financial cost in all but the largest outbreaks.

The report also indicates the overall size and cost of any future outbreaks are very likely to be less than 2001 because there are now fewer movements of livestock, we have a movement stand still and there would be an immediate national movement ban and swift implementation of the revised contingency plan when FMD is first detected.

The epidemiological and economic information the report provides, will be used to help determine the most appropriate control strategy or strategies to regain FMD-free status without routine vaccination under a range of defined circumstances, should the disease break out in the future.

The report does not, however, propose a unique single strategy for dealing with a future outbreak.

The basic disease control policy required under the new EU Directive remains the slaughter of all susceptible animals on premises infected with FMD and those identified as "dangerous contacts". However, the Directive gives greater prominence to the potential use of emergency vaccination, as an additional control measure to culling.

The Government will consider emergency vaccination as a disease control option from the start of any outbreak of FMD; on the basis of vaccinate to live, wherever possible. This is in line with the recommendations of the main FMD Inquiries.

Animal Health Minister, Ben Bradshaw said," The CBA will help us gauge which disease control option we should use in which circumstance. It will also help us plan resources for an outbreak; build consensus on when to use emergency vaccination; and generally improve our understanding of the costs of different disease control policies."