Phase 3 begins for UK’s bovine TB vaccine and skin test
Another step towards UK bovine TB cattle vaccine as phase 3 of field trials begin across Wales & England to provide additional information to guide how a vaccine can be deployed to support eradication
Over 60,000 cattle in England and Wales were slaughtered during 2023/24 to tackle the disease.
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The Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) in England has announced that field trials for a TB vaccine and companion skin test to check for bovine TB have entered a third phase to involve larger numbers of cattle.
The field trials are being conducted on commercial livestock farms in the low-risk TB areas in England and in Wales, and are scheduled for completion in 2026.
Phase 3 will involve a minimum of 10 farms with 750 animals participating; all of which will receive the cattle BCG vaccine. Animals will be checked using the companion DIVA (Detect Infected among Vaccinated Animals) skin test – it is this DIVA test which is crucial, as the current skin test does not differentiate between animals that are infected or vaccinated against TB.
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The UK government has committed to eradicating TB by 2038, and a deployable vaccine is key to achieving that goal.
Dr Camille Szmaragd Harrison, lead scientist for TB at the APHA, has confirmed that the first two phases of the field trials have successfully demonstrated that the vaccine and skin test are safe to use.
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Title: Phase 3 begins for UK’s bovine TB vaccine and skin test
Another step towards UK bovine TB cattle vaccine as phase 3 of field trials begin across Wales & England to provide additional information to guide how a vaccine can be deployed to support eradication
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The Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) in England has announced that field trials for a TB vaccine and companion skin test to check for bovine TB have entered a third phase to involve larger numbers of cattle.
The field trials are being conducted on commercial livestock farms in the low-risk TB areas in England and in Wales, and are scheduled for completion in 2026.
Phase 3 will involve a minimum of 10 farms with 750 animals participating; all of which will receive the cattle BCG vaccine. Animals will be checked using the companion DIVA (Detect Infected among Vaccinated Animals) skin test – it is this DIVA test which is crucial, as the current skin test does not differentiate between animals that are infected or vaccinated against TB.
The UK government has committed to eradicating TB by 2038, and a deployable vaccine is key to achieving that goal.
Dr Camille Szmaragd Harrison, lead scientist for TB at the APHA, has confirmed that the first two phases of the field trials have successfully demonstrated that the vaccine and skin test are safe to use.
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