As the news breaks this weekend that Bird flu has spread across
Europe via migrating swans and has reached to just across the
channel from Britain, it is, synchronistically, today, the 5th
Anniversary of the start of the UK, EU and world's worst foot-and-
mouth disease (FMD) epidemic in which between 5 and 8 million
animals (mostly healthy and uninfected) were slaughtered - including
children's pet lambs, calves and goats and including exotic zoo
animals.

Have we learned the lessons of the FMD epidemic, as we face this new
crisis?

Tomorrow, a dramatic new novel, "Following Orders", based on the
real events and experiences of a vet in the front line of the FMD
epidemic is published. It is an alarming insight into how desperate
politicians, frightened farmers and compliant professionals can
slide down a slippery slope into ethical and economic catastrophe.
Details of "Following Orders" can be found here:
http://www.polouk.farming.co.uk/stress/STRESSINDEX.HTM
and a discussion of the content here:
http://www.smartgroups.com/message/viewdiscussion.cfm?gid=743906&messageid=34074

Five years ago today, a vet noticed signs of illness in a batch of
27 sows and a boar at an abattoir in Essex UK. As the FMD epidemic
moved quickly, steadily and increasingly out of control, a
standard "stamping-out" policy based on on-the-ground veterinary
risk assessment fell into disrepute and a new approach was
introduced: Large scale use of mass culling of healthy animals in
the regions around outbreaks, with culling decisions based on remote
computer modelling.

The FMD epidemic was eventually brought under control, but not until
around 6 million healthy farm animals had been killed (the precise
number will never be known, newborn animals were not counted and the
fetuses of the many heavily pregnant cattle and sheep - due to the
time of year - were not included).

If you would like to say a prayer for the millions of animals that
suffered (due to movement restricitons) as well and the millions
that died in Europe 5 years ago, plus the millions of poultry whose
lives hang in the balance now, here is Albert Schweitzer's "Prayer
for the Anmals"...
http://www.stress-counselling.co.uk/sunflower/VISIONS/prayer.htm

An archive of the FMD epidemic, with photos and news headlines, is
available here:
http://www.sunflower-health.com/fmd220803/fmdoutbreaks.htm

More about Bird flu:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/cheal/messagesearch?
query=bird+flu

FREE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
-----------------------------
Manchester UK 14-16 March 2006, entitled "The Cultural Documents of
the 2001 Foot and Mouth Epidemic - A review of the social, health,
veterinary, cultural and scientific research work and documentary
records relating to the 2001 FMD outbreak in Britain".

The conference focuses on:

a) A non-partisan, informed and constructive public debate about
what happened, why and the lessons are that we can now learn from
all this five years on. It will involve a wider general public and
urban community leaders in the debate about FMD for the first time.

b) Framing a new cultural understanding and response to FMD and
animal epidemiology in general in the light of public concerns about
HPAI "Bird Flu".

For details see:
http://www.pighealth.com/diseases/FMD/news.htm