Ireland tightens disease controls

TIGHT controls have been put in place in the Irish Republic following confirmation of a case of foot-and-mouth disease in Northern Ireland.

The Dublin-based Department of Agriculture had already banned live auction marts and trade in used farm machinery between the Republic and Great Britain.

It has now imposed a total movement ban on farms in part of North Louth, the county bordering South Armagh where the Northern Ireland outbreak was found.

The Gardai (police) and Army are to enforce the restriction.

In addition, Dublin has banned the movement of all susceptible animals within the Republic, except for direct transfers from farms to slaughterhouses.

But this does not go far enough for farm body the Irish Creamery Manufacturers Suppliers Association (ICMSA).

It has called for a total shutdown of all on- and off-farm movements for a four-day period to stop foot-and-mouth disease gaining a foothold.

“I believe the minister should make each farm a virtual fortress,” said ICMSA president, Pat ORourke.

“Regardless of how effective a disinfectant bed may be, it is not close to 100%.”

Hunting, fishing and hill-walking have also been suspended. Sheep imported from Great Britain since 1 February are being tracked down and slaughtered.

In a separate move, electricity meter-reading in rural areas has been suspended, as has the farms waste plastic collection and recycling service.

Francis Fanning of the Irish Farmers Association urged farmers to be vigilant until the threat of spreading the disease had been eliminated.

“Farmers are heartened by the support from industry and the community at large in the face of the foot-and-mouth disease threat,” he said.

The IFA has taken out newspaper adverts to urge farmers and the public to do everything possible to protect the Ir5 billion (UK4bn) food sector from foot-and-mouth disease.

Elsewhere in Europe, France is preparing to destroy some 30,000 sheep imported from Britain since the beginning of February.

In Portugal, British tourists are being made to disinfect their feet when disembarking from boats and planes.

In Germany, a number of sheep imported from Britain were given the all-clear, though five farms which imported pigs are under strict surveillance.
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