§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many carcasses of red deer, other deer and wild mammals have been examined in each of the past 10 years; and how many were found to be infected with bovine tuberculosis in each of the last 10 years. [HL5460]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)Table 1 shows the number of wild and farmed deer carcasses investigated for TB between 1992 and 2002 and the number of samples where mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) was found following bacteriological culture. Data are not separately available for red deer.
Table 1 Year Total number of deer tissue submissions investigated by Veterinary Laboratories Agency(VLA) Number of confirmed TB cases in wild deer Number of confirmed TB cases farmed/ park deer Total number of deer confirmed with TB 1992 50 0 1 1 1993 33 1 0 1 1994 21 1 0 1 1995 # 3 0 3 1996 +17 11 0 11 1997 11 3 0 3 1998 37 6 1 7 1999 49 7 3 10 2000 39 3 6 9 2001 28 0 1 1 2002 54 3 10 13 # Data not available + Most accurate data currently available Table 2 shows the number of badger carcasses from road traffic accidents (RTA) examined and the percentage found to be infected with M. bovis between 1992 to 1996 in England and Wales.
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Table 2 Number of road traffic accident (RTA) badgers and percentage of M. bovis infection 1992 to 1996 in England and Wales Year Total number of RTA badgers sent for post-mortem Percentage of M. bovis infection in RTA badgers 1992 163 8.6% 1993 230 13.5% 1994 401 10.7%
Table 2 Number of road traffic accident (RTA) badgers and percentage of M. bovis infection 1992 to 1996 in England and Wales Year Total number of RTA badgers sent for post-mortem Percentage of M. bovis infection in RTA badgers 1995 485 10.1% 1996 608 13.7% રThe randomised badger culling trial (RBCT) was implemented in 1998. The RTA survey results are embargoed until the Trial reports. The RTA survey was suspended in 1997 pending completion of the report on bovine tuberculosis in cattle and badgers by Professor John Krebs and the Independent Scientific Review Group This suspension resulted in a loss of data. Professor Krebs recommended the reintroduction of the RTA survey, particularly for areas of new breakdowns. The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) took this recommendation on board when it was formed, and a limited RTA survey recommenced in 2000.
Table 3 shows the number of badgers taken by Defra and the percentage found to be infected with M. bovis between 1992 to 1996 in England and Wales.
Table 3 Number of Defra-taken badgers and percentage of M. bovis infection 1992ߝ96 in England and Wales Year Total MAFF/Defra- taken badgers sent for post-mortem Percentage of M. bovis infection in MAFF taken badgers 1992 1054 20.0% 1993 1093 27.4% 1994 1708 22.4% 1995 1691 25.1% 1996 2104 22.8% Data are only available up to 1996. The ISG has recommended that pending completion of the randomised badger culling trial, interim reports on numbers and locations of badgers culled and TB prevalences should not be published in order to avoid encouraging illegal action against badgers, deterring participation in the trial and to protect the trial's statistical validity.
There are also two research projects under way which are looking at TB in wildlife other than badgers. Summary details are given in the table below:
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Table 4 Title of Research Project Start Date End Date The risk to cattle from M. bovis in wildlife Species other than badgers 1 May 1999 30 April 2004 The risk to cattle from wildlife species other than badgers in areas of high herd breakdown risk. 1 January 2000 28 February 2004 The research projects are proceeding according to plan. Following completion the findings of each project will be published.