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Torgerson, P., Torgerson, D. Benefits of stemming bovine TB need to be demonstrated. Nature 457, 657 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/457657d
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/457657d
Matt Walker
Some of the comments in this publication are factually incorrect. Zoonotic disease resulting in large economic impacts are not 'one-offs', and this is applicable to a UK context alone, not just overseas. Surely the author's memory isn't so bad that he's forgotten mad cow disease. The ramifications are still being felt globally today, and it resulted not just in economic losses, but in loss of human lives, too. In Europe, over 500 million Euro are estimated to be lost within the dairy sector due to M. bovis. In New Zealand, the recent spread of M. bovis (i.e. mycoplasma not mycobacterium), is currently causing severe economic devastation. Are there any declared conflicts of interest associated with this paper? I can't find the section if there is one, and would like to take a look at it, please let me know.
Matt Walker
If current programmes attempting to reduce bovine TB aren't working in the UK, perhaps it ought to look at its methodologies, and whether industry is being compliant. Here, in New Zealand, our anti-TB programme is regarded as having been greatly successful. It is even the aim of health authorities to entirely eliminate the disease within the next decade. You've got to ask yourself, if we can do it, what are you doing wrong? My view is that trying to fight to maintain current industry practice, rather than support effort to deal to the problem, may likely be a significant issue.