Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the recent outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in hounds, what assessment they have made of the risk of future outbreaks; and what steps they are taking to prevent future outbreaks.

TB in dogs caused by Mycobacterium bovis, the bovine TB bacterium, is extremely rare. Dogs pose a very low risk of transmitting the disease to cattle herds and, overall, they play an insignificant role in the persistence of bovine TB in England.

Defra’s Chief Veterinary Officer met the Chairman of the Master of Fox Hounds Association and others on 8 February. The discussion included possible new best practice guidance that would reduce the risk of infection in hounds.