AN OUTBREAK OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS IN 2 HERDS IN SOUTHWEST SCOTLAND -VETERINARY AND HUMAN PUBLIC-HEALTH RESPONSE

Background Although the incidence oi bovine tuberculosis in UK cattle has declined markedly, outbreaks still occur. There is often confusion as to how veterinary and human public health agencies should interact in such circumstances. We report an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis w hich occurred in Sou ih West Scotland in 1992. Methods The outbreak, w hich affected two cattle herds, and potentially involved 17 humans, wa s discovered when visible tuberculous lesions were found at routine po st mortem examination of a calf. investigation of animals and humans, Exchange oi information between human and veterinary public health age ncies, and subsequent control measures followed the guidance of a rece ntly produced protocol. Results Tuberculin testing of other animals in the index herd revealed 11 reactors, Testing oi the herd of origin of these animals revealed 84 reactors out oi 261 animals: Movement restr ictions were placed on the index herd, and ail the animals in the herd oi origin were slaughtered. The humans were screened primarily by his tory and tuberculin skin testing. Eleven of them required chest X-rays (ail were normal) and six were given prophylactic chemotherapy with i soniazid Nobody developed clinical illness. Conclusion The use of: an agreed protocol proved to be very helpful to both human and veterinary public health agencies in the investigation and control oi an outbrea k oi bovine tuberculosis. There is a clear need for better human scree ning tests.