Virus returns to old haunts
23 May 2001
Virus returns to old haunts
By FWi staff
A SPATE of new foot-and-mouth outbreaks weeks after previous cases in the same areas has further heightened fears that the disease is making a comeback.
New cases were confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday and Wednesday (22-3 May) in North Yorkshire, Dumfries and Galloway and Northumberland.
These were among eleven new outbreaks of the virus over the two days, the others being confirmed in heavily-infected Cumbria, The Borders and near Settle, North Yorkshire.
Concerns had already been heightened by 19 cases of foot-and-mouth recently confirmed in the “Settle rectangle” area of the North Yorkshire Dales area.
Levels of infection suggested that foot-and-mouth had been present in the area for up to three weeks, leading to fears that it could have spread far and wide.
The latest North Yorkshire case is at Appleton Wiske, Northallerton – not close to Settle – and the first outbreak near Northallerton since 17 April.
An outbreak at Wark near Hexham in Northumberland comes almost six weeks after the last nearby cases.
Foot-and-mouth was last confirmed in Hexham in 11 April, and no case had been reported in Wark since 26 March.
Confirmation of foot-and-mouth at Eastriggs, near Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, is Scotlands second case in 24 hours after nine clear days.
The latest case is the first near Annan since 24 April, and the first at Eastriggs since 4 April.
After confirmation of the virus at Duns, Berwickshire, on Tuesday (22 May), Scottish officials met to discuss their response to the renewed threat.
Meanwhile, Conservative agriculture spokesman Tim Yeo has called for a top Army officer to be appointed to co-ordinate action in the Yorkshire Dales.
During a visit to Skipton, near Settle, Mr Yeo said somebody was required to ensure resources were being used efficiently.
Since the outbreak began 1636 cases of foot-and-mouth have been confirmed in the UK.
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