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Botulism: Shropshire

Asked by Helen MorganLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 10 September 2025UIN 75522

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help protect livestock from botulism disease in Shropshire.

Answered by Ashley Dalton

The risk posed by botulism from poultry litter and other sources are well established in the agricultural industry. Farmers and their advisors know what measures can be taken to mitigate the risk. In some situations where risk analysis has been undertaken, several farmers opt to vaccinate cattle against the disease.

There is advice available on GOV.UK on botulism in livestock at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/botulism-in-farmed-ruminants/botulism-in-farmed-ruminants

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has published review articles in veterinary journals such as In Practice, which is available at the following link:

https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1136/inpract.30.7.392

The APHA Surveillance Unit also present on the subject with food safety lecture to undergraduates at veterinary schools in the United Kingdom and at conferences for livestock vets.

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