Chief vet optimistic over swine fever

18 August 2000



Chief vet optimistic over swine fever

by Alistair Driver

JIM SCUDAMORE, the governments chef veterinary officer, has voiced his optimism that the outbreak of swine fever may be contained.

Mr Scudamore was speaking at a joint press conference with agriculture minister Nick Brown in London on the afternoon of Friday (18 August).

There were “encouraging” signs that the outbreak of swine fever may have been successfully contained, he told reporters.

Although 35 farms are under restriction after reporting suspected cases of the disease, there have been no new confirmed cases since Saturday 12 August.

The European Commission has suggested that the source of the outbreak could be from Asian wild boars illegally imported into Britain.

Government officials are also examining whether the disease has been transmitted in Britain by wild boar which have escaped into the countryside.