No longer an Island

摘要

Phil Stocker discusses the NSA position regarding disease control and traceability and outlines the latest on Schmallenberg Virus. Schmallenberg virus is a stark reminder that our status as 'an island' is only relative. Whether we were ever entirely protected because of that island status is debatable but now, more than ever, we have to recognise that the protection provided can only go so far. So called exotic diseases such as Blue Tongue and Schmallenberg are primarily transmitted by insects, midges, and mosquitos, and weather patterns are such that they can be blown across the channel depending on insect activity and weather conditions. Protecting our stock from foreign disease such as Foot and Mouth disease from further afield should be more within our control but with global movements of people, products, and food being so common place this risk is only as good as the controls that are in place.