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Posted: 25th July 2023

Government publishes new Aquatic Animal Disease Outbreak Plan
The plan aims to protect the UK's high aquatic animal health status.
The plan ensures the UK keeps its high aquatic animal health status.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the UK’s new Aquatic Animal Disease Outbreak Plan.

The Contingency Plan for Exotic Notifiable and Emerging Diseases of Aquatic Animals in England and Wales details how Defra, the Welsh government and its operational partners prepare for and react to aquatic disease outbreaks.

The plan intends to prevent outbreaks of diseases such as Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) and Infectious Haemotopoietic Necrosis (IHN), which may harm aquatic animals, disrupt business, damage the environment and cost taxpayers significant amounts.

It also aims to protect the UK’s high aquatic animal health status, keeping the country free from the most serious aquatic diseases.

The document sets out the responsibilities of each Government and industry body to prevent and control potential disease outbreaks, providing directions should an outbreak of an aquatic disease occur.

Any initial suspicions of an aquatic disease outbreak should be reported to the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) immediately

If an outbreak is identified at a site, the FHI will then issue a Confirmed Designation Notice (CDN), which restricts the movement of aquatic animals from the infected area.

The emergency procedure details how Government groups will manage culling animals at infected sites to prevent further spread of the disease, and how the site will be cleared and disinfected to prevent re-emergence when the site is restocked.

The CDN would only be lifted once the FHI is satisfied that the disease is no longer present according to requirements given in legislation.

UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: “I am proud of the UK’s high aquatic animal health status, and we are committed to maintaining this internationally recognised footing.
 
“The plan published today sets out clear steps for industry and government to respond quickly to aquatic disease outbreaks, ensuring the UK remains a world-leading food and farming nation.”

Read the full report here.



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