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Why is slaughter necessary?
The objective of carrying out a slaughter policy is to eliminate the source of FMD
virus. Rapid and complete elimination is essential to prevent further spread of disease
and to prevent completely the possibility of recurrence or recrudescence of FMD in the
future. Ruminants infected with FMD can become persistently infected carriers of the
virus. Vaccination does not prevent the establishment of carriers. There are currently
no entirely reliable diagnostic tests to detect carrier animals and there is no method
of 'curing' the carrier state. For these reasons, slaughter of animals is the only way
of ensuring complete elimination of the virus.
What should be done?
• All animals of susceptible species present on the infected premises (IP) should be
slaughtered, whether showing clinical signs or not. All holdings under the same
management must be considered as a single unit, i.e., if a farmer has two separate herds,
but the same people and equipment are used for both, then both herds must be slaughtered,
irrespective of whether or not both are clinically affected.
• Adequate staffing must be ensured to carry out slaughter with minimal possible delay
under humane conditions. Only experienced slaughtermen should be employed.
• Slaughter may be carried out inside a building or in the open air, but should be
performed on an impervious surface if at all possible.
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