Expect more foot-and-mouth

1 March 2001



‘Expect more foot-and-mouth’

By FWi staff

FARMERS should brace themselves for more cases of foot-and-mouth disease, as more are “in the pipeline” warns the countrys top vet.

Chief Veterinary Officer Jim Scudamore says investigators are awaiting results from a number of tests .

“We confirmed seven cases yesterday, we have got more in the pipeline,” he told the BBC.

“These are all linked to a large extent with movements that took place before the complete ban on the 23 February.”

He added that a risk assessment was taking place to determine whether it would be necessary to cull wildlife.

“From that, we will then conclude whether we need to take any action or whether the risks are so low that there is no problem,” he told the BBC.

Eight cases were confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday (28 February), which brings the total confirmed cases to 26.

These in two cases in Powys and Leicestershire and outbreaks in Lancashire, Herefordshire, Devon, and Essex.

It looks increasingly likely that the disease has spread to Northern Ireland, and it is widely reported that it may have also crossed into the Irish Republic.

Northern Irelands agriculture minister Brid Rodgers said her department believed there was an outbreak among sheep in Meigh, south Armagh.

In Scotland results are expected on Thursday for tests on two herds in Lockerbie and Canonbie, Dumfriesshire.

Samples have been taken from another farm in Polmont, near Falkirk and results are expected on Friday (02 March).

The owner of the Polmont farm is based in Boness, which led to incorrect reports that the investigations were taking place there.