Foot in Mouth Disease
Steven Ransom, Credence Publications
Over this last week, international television and radio
news bulletins have brought world audiences graphic reports of an encroaching
pestilence. The dreaded and highly infectious livestock disease known
as foot and mouthı or FMD has returned to British shores. The globe is
being treated to round the clock reports on the extent of the FMD
nightmareı. Mounds of destroyed cattle, gruesome pyres burning through
the night, ashen-faced reporters delivering the latest outbreak statistics,
people being warned to stay away from the countryside. ³As well as
being airborne, the foot and mouth virus can adhere to car tyres. Do not
venture into the countryside, unless absolutely necessary.² warned
the BBC Monday 27th Feb 10 oıclock evening news. The same feature included
reports of international rugby matches being cancelled, a meat shortage
crisis pending, pan shots of once-thriving but now empty cattle markets,
lots of hype, lots of emotion, lots of TV batten-down specials...but,
as we shall soon discover, no actual facts.
In truth, if the events of this last week have taught us anything, it
is just how much we are at the mercy of todayıs media. As a result of
this barrage of emotive, inaccurate hype, there are now members of the
public who consider it genuinely irresponsible to hang out a strip of
bacon for their garden birds, or to go for a walk in the country until
this crisis is over. Despite the much-trusted BBC, ITV, CH4 pronouncements,
the facts surrounding this crisisı are very different to what we have
so far been told.
Abigail Wood is a vet and researcher into the history of FMD, based at
the University of Manchester in the UK. She remains very down to earth
over these latest rampaging vicious virusı reports. Credence Publications
contacted her as a result of her recent UK Times article (1) which began
thus: ³Foot and mouth is as serious to animals as a bad cold is
to human beings. So why the concern?² Woodıs research, in conjunction
with research carried out by Credence Publications makes it quite clear
that FMD is not the vicious gremlin we have been led to believe.
So what is FMD? The current wisdom which we shall be examining a
little later, theorises that FMD is viral in nature. Symptoms of FMD in
livestock begin usually with a temperature, followed within 24 hours by
the appearance of blisters and ulcerations on places such as the tongue,
lips, gums, dental pad, interdigital skin of the feet, bulbs of the heels
and milk teats. Occasionally, ulcerations appear inside the nostrils or
on the muzzle or vulva. Visually, these ulcerations are the equivalent
of large cold sores. The resultant illness and lameness causes decreased
appetite, a drop in milk yield, a drop in productivity, and of course,
increased care costs. Afflicted animals almost always recover, usually
within a week or two. Death occurs in only 5 percent of cases. (2) And
the meat is fit to eat. (3)
For much of the 19th century, FMD was common right the way across the
UK. In fact, it was endemic. But it did not destroy farming. We lived
with it. Our cattle became ill.and then they recovered. Life continued
on as normal. So why todayıs scenes of mass destruction? Quite simply,
it is because we are continuing to adhere to some woefully errant farming
policy instituted nearly 50 years ago. Says Wood: ³The instant destruction
policy was implemented in the 1950ıs by the UK governing bodies, as a
result of growing pressure over the years from pedigree herd owners, (rather
than the more common meat and milk producers) who wished to see the eradication
of FMD. Continued promotion of the slaughter policy by the UK authorities
as the most effective way of dealing with foot and mouth, eventually persuaded
the continent and then the rest of the world to follow suit. We instituted
the policy, and now we have to live with the results of that policy.²
In those early years, FMD was as much a part of British farming as bad
weather, poor harvests and other afflictions affecting livelihood. But
in todayıs intensive farming climate, production and global reputation
is everything. Because of the UKıs continued and, as we shall see, unfounded
insistence that FMD is highly infectious, and must be eradicated at all
costs, one whiff on the global food markets that UK herds have FMD leads
quite naturally to todayıs totally disproportionate scenes. If we are
in a pit, then it is a pit of our own making. And if this latest outbreakı
is to be referred to as a nightmare, then it is a nightmare brought about
by our own political and economic policies. The early zeal for the perfect
pedigree - a disease-free herd - is this same ideal not mirrored
in todayıs genome quest for a disease-free human race? It seems that the
FMD 'instant destruction' policy has its roots fair and square in the
mistaken belief that all illness and disease, even those considered minor
and/or harmless, can eventually be eradicated.
The cows, pigs and sheep dying today are not doing so as a result of any
illness. They are dying entirely at the hands of man. The preliminary
report on this latest FMD outbreakı submitted by Dr J.M. Scudamore,
UK Chief Veterinary Officer, to the OIE (Office International des
Epizooties) tells of 35 cases on three farms, no deaths occurring anywhere
from the actual disease, but 577 animals on those farms nevertheless instantly
destroyed. (4) Should we line up our children because they are coughing?
With the facts to hand regarding FMD, should we not begin to ask some
fundamental questions? Why canıt our vital farming community, and
the public at large be given the necessary facts, and then more importantly,
the opportunity to question this instant destruction policy? But therein
lies the difficulty folks. ³It would be very difficult to change it
now.² Wood told us. ²That would be to question the perceived
wisdom of the last 100 years.² It is entrenched scientific error,
and intractable pride on behalf of the UK agricultural and governmental
bodies, that is the killer in our midst. A spokesperson from the
diagnostic department of Animal Health Trust who wished not
to be named, stated ³The hype is all out of proportion. If the
authorities just left the animals alone to recover from FMD, this would
make them healthy, and immune the next time around.²
Moving on from foot and mouth as common coldı, whatıs all this
about FMD being viral in nature, being airborne, and sticking to car tyres
and Wellington boots? Apparently, the FMD virus is quite choosy, being
breathed out by pigs, but not breathed in by cats ordogs. It can be hosted
by horses, but to no ill-effect, and humans too can contract the virus,
suffering mild skin irritations. But is this pattern of disease grounded
in reality? Does it conform to a sensible pattern of disease? Or
are we once again just trusting the wisdom of the day? In attempting to
discover how these agencies arrive at a positive diagnosis of FMD, and
to try and get an explanation for the seemingly illogical nature of FMD
proliferation, some conventional dodgingı techniques began to surface.
And especially when questioned over the possibility of mis-diagnosis.
The blood test used to determine the presence of the FMD virus is known
as the ELISA test or enzyme linked immuno-absorbent assay test. The test
delivers the positive reading by detecting proteins and antibodies in
the blood, proteins and antibodies which are presumed to be there as a
result the presence of the virus. At no time is a virus itself
ever detected. No actual photograph exists anywhere of the FMD virus.
Like so many other viruses in the $multi-billion virus industry, we have
only innumerable artistsı impressions to go by. As far as actual proof
is concerned, there isnıt any. We accept the virus model for FMD (and
BSE for that matter) because thatıs what weıre told. But there
are good grounds indeed for questioning the validity of this whole approach
to disease detection. For ELISA comes to us with a very chequered history.
In the realm of human medicine, ELISA is used extensively to detect certain
diseases, particularly HIV. And this same test is now acknowledged
to be responsible for delivering a very high number of falseı positive
HIV diagnoses. Conventional medical literature lists some 60 different
conditions, unrelated to HIV that can elicit an HIV positive response,
including flu! (5) It is conflict of interests, huge pharmaceutical losses,
entrenched error and the threat of massive litigation that has so far
stopped this disastrous story from becoming more widely known. Back
to the farmyard, and we discover the animal kingdom is equally susceptible
to foreign proteins in the blood and heightened levels of antibody activity.
The stress of confinement alone can produce an immune response in an animal.
Kelly Sapsford, Operations Manager at Harlan Sera Labs, a serum and antibody
manufacturing company told us ³Antibodies are not necessarily specific
to one disease. Picture a key that fits a certain lock. The key to that
lock is not necessarily unique. There may well be other locks out there
that the key will fit..² What minor illnesses are there in the
animal kingdom that might elicit the same immune response to FMD? And
with all these farms being visited at such lightning speed, what are the
protocols being adhered to? Are they being adhered to? Surely, we are
allowed to know these things.
The officials at Pirbright Animal Health Laboratory responsible for managing
this latest crisisı, however think otherwise. No awkward questions are
entertained. Under specific instruction from management, a Dr Tom
Barrett at Pirbright told us that staff were not allowed to answer any
questions, except through the Medical Director. Numerous telephone calls
to MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries) produced the same
negative response, pointing us only to their website. Repeated attempts
to speak to somebody in authority at Pirbright finally located the Head
of Diagnostics, John Anderson. He informed us that whilst the ELISA tests
were manufactured in-houseı ³..of course, they were accurate.²
This same pat answer is what was being delivered by the relevant
authorities as the accounts of HIV misdiagnosis began to surface.
Anderson then listed the other tests which are used in conjunction
with ELISA to supposedly confirm the presence of the virus. Unfortunately,
the confirmatory tests he mentioned are all equally susceptible to error.
And the fact that the Pirbright FMD tests are manufactured in-house excludes
them from that valuable check and balance system known as peer review.
When pressed on these points, Mr Anderson would not enter into discussion.
But then extracting qualifying information from governmental bodies is
never straightforward. Colin King, a spokesman from an independent veterinary
diagnostics company, stated; ³The protocol information and detail you
seek will be almost impossible to come by. In peace time as well as in
war, these government agencies wonıt really tell you anything.²
In summarising the current FMD crisisı, this simple extract from Abigail
Woodıs account of the 1920ıs Cheshire FMD outbreak is most revealing.
Trawled from Cheshire local newspapers available at the Cheshire Records
Office we read ³Ministry teams were so far behind in their slaughtering
that on many farms the cows had recovered before the slaughterers had
arrived. Farmers looked at their now-normal cows in bewilderment and asked
³Was that it? Was that trivial illness what all the fuss was about?²
(6)
Until MAFF and other responsible agencies begin to answer these questions,
and until we, the general public cease to worship so unremittingly at
the altar of conventional medical science, this crisis (as with numerous
other iatrogenic, or doctor induced crises) will remain out of control
and on the rampage. For it is in researching this situation more
carefully, that we realise the only identifiable entities out of control
and on the rampage are our own ignorance of the facts and those official
bodies conducting the current slaughter. The fact that the latest news
bulletins are reporting that 'expert' intervention may now have contained
the crisis, must not lull us into a false sense of security over their
expertise. There was nothing to worry about in the first place. The whole
thing has been an absolute disgrace.
For what itıs worth, I see no risk at all in going out for a walk in the
country. And were I to hold the post of minister for birdfeedı, I
would not hesitate in giving permission to all chaffinch lovers to hang
out those strips of bacon.. if bacon is their preference of course!
Please distribute widely.
Comments to steve1@onetel.net.uk
References.
1. UK Times, 1.3.2001
2. Australian Animal Health Information Services. http://www.aahc.com.au/
March 5, 2001 update.
3. UK Times, ibid
4. Office International des Epizooties http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_60.HTM#Sec2
5. A more detailed account of the problems with ELISA testing can
be found at http://www.virusmyth.net/aids/data/cjtestfp.htm
and also at http://tomdavisbooks.com/headlines/hivdumbtest.html
6. Ms Woods is soon to be releasing her own report on FMD. Ourt of respect
for copyright, the more detailed references from these early newspapers
have been withheld. They will be published in full in Ms Wood's report.
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