Foot-and-mouth fear in N. Ireland

These sheep in France will all be killed as a precaution

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- Vets fear that the foot-and-mouth crisis has spread to Northern Ireland despite efforts to contain the virus in mainland Britain.

Sheep on a farm in Northern Ireland had show signs of the disease and were immediately slaughtered. Tests are being carried out to confirm whether the animals had the virus.

If confirmed it would mean the disease has crossed the Irish Sea but would not yet have crossed an international border.

The identification of the disease at the farm in South Armagh, on the Irish border, would bring the total confirmed cases to 27.

AUDIO James McInnes, Chairman of the Devon National Farmers Union: Farmers fear the spread of the disease 0.34 MB/31 sec. AIFF or WAV sound A deepening financial crisis 0.37 MB/34 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Correspondent Peter Humi reports: French government announces compensation plan 537 K/49 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

In Germany, preliminary tests on five sheep, which were found to have foot-and-mouth antibodies in their blood, proved negative for the virus itself.

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers said sheep on the South Armagh farm had shown signs of the disease, and that livestock on another farm had also developed symptoms.

"It is now my belief that we are looking at an outbreak of this disease in Northern Ireland," she said.

Foot-and-mouth disease affects animals with cloven hooves, like cows, sheep and pigs, but is harmless to humans. It is easily spread and can travel miles by air or on clothing or vehicle tyres.

The alarm was raised in Northern Ireland after 200 sheep were discovered to have been imported after being bought at a market in Carlisle, north west England.

The flock was destroyed while a livestock importer and dealer were being questioned on Wednesday as officials investigate whether UK bans on animal movements had been breached.

Britain's armed forces are on standby to help stem the widening outbreak in the UK. On Wednesday six new cases were identified.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair told Parliament: "We are prepared to take whatever measures are available to us to ensure we put every possible limitation on the spread of the disease."

Chief Veterinary Officer Jim Scudamore said the total number of animals which have either been slaughtered or are due to be culled is now believed to be 11,000. The animals involved include 1,000 cattle, 8,500 sheep and 1,500 pigs.

A total of 102 UK farms are now under restrictions, although 50 are believed to be clear of the disease.

Horse racing has been banned in Britain as part of attempts to prevent the disease spreading.

And a rugby international, due to take place in Wales this weekend, has been postponed amid fears that fans returning to Ireland after the match could introduce the virus to the country.

Under measures announced by Portugal on Wednesday, travellers arriving from Britain will have to surrender all food and walk through chemically impregnated sponges upon arrival.

Agriculture Minister Luis Capoulas Santos said: "I have decided to install footbaths at all sea and airports, and border posts, through which all passengers from the UK will have to pass to avoid contagion from the soles of their shoes, and to have all food confiscated."

Similar measures have been introduced for travellers arriving in the Irish Republic.

Governments elsewhere in Europe are also taking action to try to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

Thousands of animals have been slaughtered in the UK

Animals imported from Britain are being slaughtered in Germany, France and the Netherlands. Belgium and Poland have also announced measures to curb the spread of the virus.

The European Union has extended until March 9 a ban on the export from Britain of live animals.

France is slaughtering 20,000 sheep imported from Britain since the start of February.

French Agriculture Minister Jean Glavany said its cull was being taken "because of the increase in the number of farms where foot-and-mouth disease has been detected in Britain, and because of the presence in France of sheep from one of those farms."

In Germany and the Netherlands, authorities have already killed more than 3,500 cows, sheep and pigs imported from Britain.

But Germany's Consumer and Farm Minister Renate Kuenast said preliminary tests on sheep in North Rhine-Westphalia, which had come into contact with infected animals, showed they did not have foot-and-mouth disease.

Belgium has banned the transport of all sheep and goats within the country at least until March 19, reflecting the four-week incubation period for foot-and-mouth.

Poland has announced a ban on all imports of livestock from across the European Union and other European countries to protect it from the disease.

No cases have yet been confirmed across the English Channel.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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New UK foot-and-mouth case
February 25, 2001
Massive foot-and-mouth cull begins
February 24, 2001
Outbreak sparks UK meat shortage fears
February 24, 2001
UK animal virus ban to last weeks
February 22, 2001
BSE: Moves to repel European disease
January 29, 2001

European Union
The European Commission
UK Ministry of Agriculture
UK Government
National Farmers' Union
French Government

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