First infected area free of swine fever

22 September 2000



First infected area free of swine fever

By FWi staff

THE first infected area to be declared free from classical swine fever has been announced by the Ministry of Agriculture.

More than 90 farmers in the north Essex infected area will now be free to move pigs on and off their premises for the first time since 9 August.

Farm minister Nick Brown said: This is a piece of good news for farmers in an area facing an extremely difficult time.

However, we still have much more to do to eradicate this disease.

The decision to lift the infected area was made following full veterinary investigation.

Ninety-two farmers will be affected by the lifting of the north Essex infected area.

However the EU ban on exports of live pigs remains in place, as it does with Norfolk and Suffolk, until 15 October 2000.