Bovine TB (Hansard, 4 July 2002)

§ Mr. Wiggin
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards the development of a bovine TB vaccine. [65685]

§ Mr. Morley
DEFRA's ultimate aim is to produce an effective vaccine for cattle to protect against bovine tuberculosis, and it is spending over £1.4 million a year on this. DEFRA recently announced that the sequence of the entire genoma of the organism that causes bovine tuberculosis has been determined in a collaborative project between the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (UK), the Institut Pasteur (France) and the Pathogen Genome Sequencing Unit at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (UK). This breakthrough is a major step forward in the long-term search for a vaccine against bovine TB and more rapid diagnostic testing. However, the Independent Scientific Group for Cattle TB (ISG) advise that this would offer a solution only in the long term.

§ Mr. Wiggin
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards the completion of the scientific badger culling trial; when the trial will be completed; and what preliminary results have been obtained. 166078]
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§ Mr. Morley
Field operations associated with the badger culling trial were suspended during the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, because of the risk of the disease being carried by field operatives onto agricultural land, and because of the diversion of resources. Surveying resumed in January, with trapping under way on I May. The Independent Scientific Group for Cattle TB (ISG) has considered the impact of FMD on the trial and advised that the delivery of results will only be delayed by 3–4 months, to late 2004 or early 2005.
The ISG advise that it is to early for an analysis of results so far. It is a basic rule for scientific trials that results are not published prematurely. It has, however, been possible to complete a preliminary analysis of the risk factors associated with cattle TB and this is set out in the ISG's third annual report, copies of which are available in the House Library.

§ Mr. Laurence Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the possibility of bovine TB being transferred to humans; and if she will make a statement. [66511]

§ Mr. Morley
[holding answer 2 July 2002]There are estimated to be about 40–50 cases of Mycobacterium bovis (bovine TB) in humans each year in Great Britain. Most of these cases are either contracted abroad or result from the reactivation of M. bovis acquired in the past.
Public health safeguards have been in existence for many years to minimise the risk of people being exposed to bovine TB through meat, milk or dairy products. It is possible that some cases of bovine TB may have occurred in people who have a close association with infected animals. The HSE has published guidance for farm workers on minimising the risk of infection.
Regular meetings are held between Government Departments to monitor the potential for bovine TB to infect humans through the UK food chain and other zoonotic routes.