Preparing for emergencies
Last Updated: 4 September, 2007
Dr Iain Anderson to lead an independent review into the lessons learned from the response to the 2007 outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease and led the lessons learned inquiry into the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak and has brought his considerable knowledge and expertise to the examination of whether the lessons learned from 2001 were implemented as well as to identifying what new lessons might be drawn from the handling of the 2007 outbreak.
The World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) has now officially declared that the UK has regained freedom from FMD without vaccination following a three month disease-free period.
Dr Anderson's review commends the Government's overall handling of the outbreak. He states that “many of the lessons identified in the 2002 report had been acted upon and performance, taken as a whole, was much improved”. “In analysing how the 2007 outbreak was handled, with its innumerable, interwoven decisions and actions, we found much to applaud, along with some deficiencies. On balance, the positive easily outweighs the negative”.
As well as finding much progress compared to 2001, Dr Anderson's review also points to things that didn't go right and where further action is recommended.
Dr Anderson makes a number of recommendations in his report and Government will consider them all carefully. In consultation with our partner delivery bodies and external stakeholders, we will decide what now needs to be done to make sure we are.