Stakeholders Letter

Outbreak of Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VHS) in North Yorkshire: Redefinition of the Designated Area

Dear Sir/Madam

1. I am writing to advise you that on 10 August Defra issued a News Release announcing a redefinition of the area of North Yorkshire subject to the specific movement controls because of an outbreak of Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia. A copy of the News Release is attached at Annex 1 for your information.

2. The immediate effect of the redefinition will be to permit all fish farming businesses situated in the catchments of the rivers Derwent, Rye, Wharfe, Aire, Calder, Don and Rother to move live fish to other parts of Great Britain. The movement restrictions will however remain on the catchment area of the River Ouse from its sources to the Normal Tidal Limit at Naburn Lock and will apply to all fish farming and processing businesses on the catchments of the Rivers Nidd, Ure, Swale as well as the river Ouse. A Buffer Zone for heightened surveillance purposes has been established between this redefined River Ouse catchment and the river areas no longer subject to specific movement restrictions. The Buffer Zone will be subject to movement restrictions. I enclose maps of the area at Annex 2.

3. A new Designated Area Order will be made shortly to reflect the changes to the redefined area. In the meantime, for the avoidance of any doubt, farms remaining subject to movement restrictions as outlined in paragraph 2 will remain subject to the requirements of the Diseases of Fish (Designated Areas) (England) Order (No. 2) 2006.

4. As a result of the redefinition, the current suspension of the Great Britain approved zone in respect of VHS is lifted, except for the area in paragraph 2, remaining under movement restriction. Trade with areas of the EU with VHS “approved zones” status may therefore recommence from all farming establishments now included within the redefined GB approved zone.

5. Ministers with responsibility for fish health in England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to the redefinition of the designated area on the basis of the latest expert advice from the National Control Centre at Cefas, that indicates only a low risk of spread of VHS from the redefined restricted area (i.e. the area of the river Ouse catchment from its sources to Naburn Lock) to the remainder of Great Britain. They have also made it clear that enhanced surveillance and risk mitigation measures must be applied. These will include:

• additional testing of fish in the wild and on-farm after water temperatures drop below 14C (expected late September/early October); and

• a written undertaking from all businesses subject to the Diseases of Fish (Designated Areas) (England) (No.2) Order 2006 that they will notify to the Fish Health Inspectorates in GB any unusual mortalities or disease signs as they occur and submit weekly records of routine mortalities.

The full co-operation of all fish farmers in carrying out these and other risk mitigation measures will be necessary.

6. More generally, since the National Control Centre teams investigating the current isolated outbreak on the river Nidd have yet to conclusively identify the source of infection, all trout farming businesses in Great Britain should report any escapes of rainbow trout, and any unusual signs of disease as they occur, to the Fish Health Inspectorates at Cefas (for England and Wales) or FRS, Aberdeen (for Scotland). They should also keep an up to date weekly record of routine mortalities so that these can be inspected by Fish Health Inspectors at any time and without prior notification. Additional guidance on other biosecurity measures is being prepared in consultation with the representative organisations of the fish farming industries and will be made available shortly.

7. We are hopeful that the outbreak in Yorkshire was an isolated event that has been brought under control. However the possibility exists that there could still be some undetected VHS infections and that another outbreak, possibly unrelated to Yorkshire, could emerge in the coming months. All farmers in the GB approved zone must therefore be extra vigilant in this period and work with government Departments to help maintain the disease free status we have enjoyed in respect of VHS and other serious diseases.

8. If you require any clarification please contact Joe Parsons on 020 7270 8233 (e-mail Joseph.Parsons@defra.gsi.gov.uk) or the Fish Health Inspectorate on 01305 206673 (e-mail fish.health.inspectorate@cefas.co.uk).

Yours faithfully

David Mullin
Veterinary Exotic Diseases,
Research & Official Controls Division (Team G )

Annex 1

Defra Press Release - 10/08/2006

Annex 2

Map 1. The five zones of the original Designated Area

Map 2. The buffer zone between the river systems of the 5 zones of the original Designated Area.