Bovine Tuberculosis

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cows were slaughtered after testing positive for bovine tuberculosis in a gamma interferon blood test in each of the last five years.

Answer

The number of cattle blood sampled, which have tested positive to the gamma interferon test in each of the last six years (for example, since its use was introduced in the field in Britain), can be found in the following table.

Number of reactors to the gamma interferon test (Britain)
	Number
2002	135
2003	545
2004	591
2005	1,476
2006	463
2007	2,773

Gamma reactors identified between 2002 and 23 October 2006 were as a result of a pilot trial, which took place between 2002 and 2005, and ad-hoc use, which continued into 2006 (hence low rates identified in 2006). On 23 October 2006 a new policy of enhanced gamma usage was introduced across Britain. The test is used as a supplement to the skin test and is mandatory in certain scenarios where it can have the biggest impact in reducing disease.