The UK is analyzing the risk of sheep and goat pox through Spanish products

The UK Government has assessed the risk of sheep and goat pox entering the country as a result of the import of unpasteurised dairy products originating in Spain.

The health authorities point out that “the specific risk is that the import of unpasteurised milk and dairy products, their packaging and equipment, such as people, vehicles and equipment, contaminated with the sheep and goatpox virus could cause an outbreak of the disease in vulnerable groups.” Number of sheep and goats in Great Britain. Likewise, they highlight that one concern is that artisan producers have to travel to Great Britain for this Selling unpasteurized dairy products in cheese fairs.

However, they state that other routes of transmission, such as imports of live animals, raw wool or hides, personal imports and illicit trade, fall outside the scope of this risk assessment.

In this sense, the researchers determined that “the probability of sheep or goats in Great Britain becoming infected with the sheep and goat pox virus from the import of a single consignment containing unpasteurised sheep, dairy or goat milk from an infected herd and not being detected in Spain is assessed as Very low“.

Schematic diagram of sheep and goat pox risk analysis.

They also highlight that “because this assessment takes into account the risks of a single shipment, the overall risk to Great Britain will be added to by the volume of trade from Spain.” “The value is highly uncertain and was outside the scope of this assessment. However, the volume of trade will have an impact on the overall outcome and the risk to Britain of sheep or goats in Britain becoming infected through the import of unpasteurised milk or dairy products.” the details.

Likewise, remember that Known infected facilities in Spain are restricted By the relevant competent authority and cannot export unpasteurized milk and dairy products to Great Britain. Therefore, “this risk assessment assumes a worst-case scenario, where an infected but undetected farm exports unpasteurized milk or dairy products to Great Britain,” they concluded.