Day 113 - 03 Apr 95 - Page 36
1 could be used now were not available at that time ago, so
2 more or less dependent on organophosphate compounds. But
3 we have new treatments because of the problems in sheep.
4 I will not detail those, but they have an effect because
5 organophosphorus compounds have a very bad reputation
6 amongst farmers primarily because of their use on sheep.
7
8 Q. I am going to come on to human health concerns. Which of
9 the treatments that we have talked about -----
10
11 MR. JUSTICE BELL: If you are going to move to a new topic we
12 may as well break off now and we will come back to that at
13 2 o'clock.
14
15 (Luncheon Adjournment)
16
17 MR. MORRIS: Dr. Long, we were looking into some of the
18 illnesses that are associated with cattle, in particular,
19 beef dairy herds and the treatment. What are the
20 implications for human health as regards the actual
21 diseases that are prevalent in a significant amount of
22 cattle, firstly, and, secondly, the implications for human
23 health of the treatment?
24 A. I deal with those in that order then. Let me just
25 exemplify, there are a number of diseases that could be put
26 forward but they are, essentially, bacterial or viral or
27 fungal in origin. The major bacterial ones that we would
28 be considering are salmonella of various sorts, I think
29 they are general, and also there is now E.coli, what is
30 called verotoxigenic E.coli which in this country has got
31 the description 0157.
32
33 Q. We have heard quite a lot of evidence on that.
34 A. Yes, you asked me the question. I am not quite
35 sure -----
36
37 Q. No, I understand. You go through them.
38 A. So I am glad that I am going along the lines that other
39 people have said because it is a very serious problem.
40 That is one disease. Another disease actually that affects
41 the workers, because a number of these diseases actually
42 affect the workers as well as the consumers, so there is a
43 health concern there, is leptospirosis, not the
44 leptospirosis that sewer workers get or rat workers or rat
45 operatives, although that does occur, but a special form of
46 leptospirosis which is associated with dairy cattle where
47 the workers have to use machinery -----
48
49 MR. RAMPTON: I know you do not always welcome my intervention
50 but I do think we are straying a million miles from the
51 leaflet or the Defence.
52
53 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
54
55 MR. RAMPTON: There is nothing about farm workers in any of this
56 case, as far as I know.
57
58 MR. MORRIS: I was going to guide the witness there.
59
60 MR. RAMPTON: Why do you not try?
