Roadmap for development of disease control strategies for bTB

What are we trying to achieve and why? What is the problem we are trying to solve?

To establish the extent and where the burden of cost lies and who would benefit in any control strategy at a farm, regional or national level.

What are the scientific and technological challenges (knowledge gaps needing to be addressed)?

• Establishing the full cost of disease to farmers.
• Establishing the full cost of disease to government and tax payers.
• Establishing the full cost of the various control strategies, including interventions in wildlife; model and cost control options.
• Establishing the cost resulting from human infections with M.bovis and who are most at risk.
• Establish the real or potential impact on local, national, and international trade.

What approaches could/should be taken to address the research question?

• Cost of diagnostic surveillance compared to stamping out.
• Compare (model) cost and outcome scenarios with and without wildlife control (selective culling, non-selective culling, vaccination), cattle vaccination, genetic selection etc.

What else needs to be done before we can solve this need?

Properly list and describe all options and make sure to have the right methodology to assess the costs

Existing knowledge including successes and failures