Hope follows virus-free week


8 October 2001



Hope follows virus-free week

By FWi staff

MORE than one week has passed since the last confirmed case of foot-and-mouth, sparking fresh optimism that the end of the crisis is near.


The 2030th case of the disease was on 30 September. The passing of seven days since then without an outbreak is a major milestone.


Until now, there has not been a gap of more than two days without new infection since the first case was detected in Essex on 20 February.


The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it was encouraged by the decline in cases, but warned against complacency.


“It is going to take much more than a week of having no cases before we can say we have defeated this wretched disease, said a spokesman.


“There is no way we would say we are completely out of the woods.”


The National Farmers Union took a similar line.


An NFU spokeswoman said: “We are very encouraged but we are urging everyone to keep going with their biosecurity efforts.”


The Meat and Livestock Commission is holding meetings across the country to explore the future for livestock farmers after the crisis.


The meetings – from 11 October to 20 November – will examine issues of supply, profitability and livestock marketing.


MLC Industry Relations Manager Andrew Garvey said: “It is an opportunity to hear views and opinions about what the future holds.”


He added: “Farmers can start to plan to make sure they still have a business in the future.”

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