1. SUMMARY OF RISKS IDENTIFIED IN FULL ASSESSMENT

If footpaths are open to the public, there is a risk that new outbreaks of FMD will occur. Infection may result from contaminated persons or accompanying animals arriving at the footpath and subsequently passing on infection to livestock or by persons or accompanying animals becoming contaminated while in the locality of the footpath and passing on infection to livestock then or at a later time.

The factors considered to be most responsible for increasing this risk are:

• contact with infected premises or premises where animals have been exposed to the risk of infection prior to arrival at footpaths
• contact with livestock prior to arrival at footpaths
• failure to disinfect footware prior to arrival at footpaths
• proximity of the footpath to livestock areas, including infected premises and premises where animals have been exposed to the risk of infection
• presence of accompanying animals
• failure to limit access for persons or accompanying animals from footpaths to --livestock areas
• failure to limit access for livestock to footpaths, resulting in deposits of faeces, urine, milk etc.
• contact with livestock while in locality of footpaths
• contact with surroundings (including pasture and foliage) while in locality of footpath
• inappropriate disposal of animal food products (e.g. sandwiches)
• meteorological and environment conditions which influence virus survival
• failure to disinfect footware after leaving locality of footpaths
• contact with livestock after leaving locality of footpaths
• contact with surroundings (including pasture and foliage) after leaving locality of footpath

Of these, the major factors are

• proximity of the footpath to livestock areas, including infected premises and premises where animals have been exposed to the risk of infection
• contact with livestock prior to arrival at footpaths
• contact with livestock while in locality of footpaths
• contact with livestock after leaving locality of footpaths
• inappropriate disposal of animal food products (e.g. sandwiches)
• failure to limit access for livestock to footpaths, resulting in deposits of faeces, urine, milk etc.

2. SUMMARY OF RISK MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

1. Close all footpaths over land which may be grazed by livestock, making public access a criminal offence. Although effective if obeyed the action is disproportionate to the risk in many parts of the country and not justified on veterinary grounds in those areas.
2. Assuming that footpaths remain open in some or all areas, the public could be asked to avoid walking amongst livestock, and, in particular, NEVER to handle or touch animals, and to use any disinfectant footbaths or pads which the landowner may choose to provide.
3. Those who keep or handle susceptible livestock in the course of their work are most likely to have been exposed to and contaminated by FMD virus. Premises on which there are infected or suspected animals, or where animals have been exposed to the risk of infection, are controlled by statute: elsewhere the risk diminishes with distance as follows:
• within 3km of Infected Premises
• within Infected Area
• within Controlled Area
• elsewhere

3. RECOMMENDED ACTION

1. Even minute risks can be diminished by appropriate action. There is, however, a balance to be struck between the need to control FMD and the need to do no more damage than is essential to other important industries, such as tourism. Draconian action may be unnecessary and inappropriate, particularly if universally applied.
2. There is no veterinary justification for closing all footpaths and preventing all public access to land. A more measured response, which takes some account of both public perception and of the real risk, is required. The latter differs according to location and land use.
3. Public access to premises that are under restrictions because animals are infected, suspected to be infected, or have been exposed to the risk of infection, is already prohibited. Beyond these, in diminishing order of risk, we have infected and controlled areas (the latter perhaps divided into higher and lower risk), and at some future date, areas not subject to any FMD controls. Within infected areas the risk is greatest within 3km of an infected place.
4. Although the actual risk is small, public access to land grazed by livestock in Infected Areas should be prohibited at present. Access to other land is acceptable unless it lies within 3km of a infected premises which is under Form A restrictions.
5. Footpaths and bridleways in Controlled Areas should be open to most members of the public, subject to the following precautions (which need to be publicized) being observed:
• if you keep or work with susceptible livestock yourself, keep off other people’s land, including footpaths and bridleways
• if you do not keep or work with susceptible livestock, use footpaths and rights of way but:
• do not stray from the right of way onto adjoining land
• avoid walking amongst livestock
• never touch or handle livestock
• do not walk dogs, even on a lead, when there may be livestock (cattle, in particular, are curious and approach dogs).
• take any waste, including food, home
• use any disinfectant footpads or baths which the landowner provides.

Contributors:

Dr A I Donaldson IAH Pirbright Laboratory
Dr L Kelly Risk Research Dept, VLA, Weybridge
K C Taylor Veterinary Consultant
Dr M Wooldridge Head of Risk Research Dept, VLA, Weybridge