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?

• Management interventions often require changing human behaviours in stakeholders and regulators. Despite progress in epidemiological science, desirable disease management outcomes often remain unachieved; barriers to disease control or elimination are often social and political, as opposed to scientific.
• Successful implementation of a control strategy depends on the cooperation of livestock producers.
• Acceptance by the general public towards infection control measures in cattle and potentially wildlife, and cattle vaccination policy etc.
• What methods prevent stigmatization and have ease of adoption?
• Knowledge outreach from trusted experts; challenge misinformation and confirmation bias.
• Stakeholders can understand the evidence and logic for behaviour change but tend to resist changing traditional
  behaviours (eg. risk-based trading, informed purchase etc.)
• What are the barriers to uptake of “no regrets” biosecurity interventions etc.?

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

• Lack of communication between various stakeholders on the best ways to move forward.
• Knowledge outreach required from trusted and impartial experts.
• Evidence of misinformation and confirmation bias at both extremes of the stakeholder spectrum.
• Local suitability/acceptability of the standard solution in different geographical areas; context dependent solutions.
• Safe management of contaminated herds/farms.
• Challenging and costly to undertake studies that might provide evidence that, for example, enhanced biosecurity would reduce risk.

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

• “Spend to save?” – more severe control now (more sensitive testing) may reduce costs/impacts later – requires modelling.
• Strategic use of stamping out.
• Bring in local knowledge and acceptable practices to aid acceptance. Establish compensation levels for farmers.
• Establish and evaluate “focus farms” where best/better practice implemented.

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

Knowledge outreach required from trusted and impartial experts.
Evidence of misinformation and confirmation bias at both extremes of the spectrum.

Existing knowledge including successes and failures