UK 'unprepared' for major outbreaks of disease

An MP has warned he is "deeply troubled" by the government's lack of preparedness for serious animal disease outbreaks. The Government's spending watchdog this month said that Britain is not ready to handle a major flare-up of diseases in animals like bird flu, foot and mouth disease (FMD) or African swine fever.

Vet Danny Chambers raised the alarm in a letter to Environment Secretary Steve Reed this week where he said urgent action was required to boost the nation's resilience to risks. The Liberal Democrat MP said there is "growing industry concern" about the lack of capacity and preparedness for serious animal disease outbreaks.

He added: "As a veterinary surgeon and a Member of Parliament, I find the situation deeply troubling.

"This is not just a veterinary or policy issue - it is a profound threat to the health and resilience of our farming communities. Outbreaks devastate livestock, disrupt rural economies, and take a severe toll on the mental health of farmers and workers who are already under pressure. The ripple effects on food security and consumer confidence would be far-reaching."

Only 5% of live animals entering the UK are physically checked currently, a stark shortfall from the government's own 100% target.

Illegal imports of meat continue to enter the country unchecked at several ports, Dr Chambers warned.

He added: "These breaches in biosecurity leave us dangerously exposed to diseases like African swine fever and FMD, with serious implications for public health."

He called for fully functioning and adequately staffed border controls and increased investment in veterinary and public health workforce.

Dr Chambers said: "The risks are rising due to climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and continued gaps in post- Brexit border protocols. The cost of inaction is too high. I urge your department to treat this as a strategic national priority, and I would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss how we can work together to protect the UK's animal health, rural communities, and food supply."

The National Audit Office (NAO) said in a report earlier this month that the major FMD outbreak of 2001 cost the public and private sectors an estimated £5.2 billion and £8.6 billion, respectively (in 2023-24 prices).

Meanwhile outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, resulted in 7.2 million birds being culled between November 2020 and mid-March 2025.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has reported outbreaks in 16 of the past 20 years, the NAO added,

Gareth Davies, who leads the public spending watchdog, said: "Defra has assessed that the risk of an outbreak to which it would be unable to respond effectively is above the level it considers tolerable, but it has not determined a way to reduce this risk. A long-term strategy and action plan are urgently needed, to protect national economic resilience as well as food security, human health and rural communities."

A Defra spokesman said:"This Government's commitment to maintaining the country's biosecurity in the face of the mounting risks of disease is unwavering - we will do whatever it takes to protect our farmers and economy.

"We took immediate action to ban personal imports of meat and dairy from Europe after a wave of foot and mouth cases on the continent and we are investing £200 million into a new National Biosecurity Centre."