Foot-and-mouth restrictions extended

Cars arriving at Dublin Port from Britain are sprayed with disinfectant

LONDON, England -- European governments have stepped up their restrictions on the movement of animals and people in an effort to halt the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

The Irish Republic has set up extra checkpoints on its border after the first confirmed case in Northern Ireland.

A UK Ministry of Agriculture spokesman told CNN 32 farms are now known have been infected. The latest cases in Britain are at two farms in Dumfries, southern Scotland and three in Cumbria, north west England.

More than 100 extra police and troops were deployed to the Irish border on Thursday, where about 400 security force personnel have been manning checkpoints following confirmation of the disease at a farm in South Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Vehicles are being disinfected at ports and border crossings and sheep recently imported from Britain are being slaughtered.

The farm in South Armagh -- which recently imported 200 sheep from Carlisle, in northwest England -- is just two miles (3.2 kilometres) from the border of the Irish Republic. A livestock dealer was being questioned by Northern Ireland officials in connection with the outbreak.

In Paris, Channel Tunnel operator Eurotunnel said it would disinfect all vehicles travelling from Britain as a precaution.

AUDIO CNN's Nic Robertson: Farmers are fearful 251kb/23sec. AIFF or WAV sound John Gilliland, Ulster Farmers' Union: "Diseases have no borders" 433kb/40sec. AIFF or WAV sound

Cyprus and Portugal began disinfecting passengers arriving on flights from Britain while the Finnish Agricultural Ministry told Finns returning from abroad to wash clothes and shoes. Officials in the central German state of Hesse said sheep brought to the area from one of the UK farms infected with the virus were to be slaughtered.

German officials in North Rhine-Westphalia said are waiting for confirmation that sheep from two farms, which were found to have foot-and-mouth antibodies in their blood, had tested negative for the virus itself. But they said they were still on their guard and, based on the incubation period or the virus, would not be able to relax until the end of March.

Five farms in the eastern state of Brandenburg, which have imported pigs from Britain, remain under complete quarantine. All livestock markets and auction grounds in Germany were closed for a week from Wednesday.

Foot-and-mouth disease affects animals with cloven hooves such as pigs, sheep and cows. It is harmless to humans and is not even fatal to most animals, but it destroys their economic value. The virus can travel miles by air or on clothing or vehicle tyres.

France is to destroy another 30,000 sheep which have been in contact with animals from Britain since February 1 on top of a cull of 20,000 animals already announced. Farm Minister Jean Glavany said France had yet to record any suspected cases of foot-and-mouth but remained wary because a large number of sheep had been imported ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) on March 5.

Sheep carcasses on a truck at a slaughterhouse near Paris

The Netherlands and Belgium have also ordered the slaughter of animals linked to UK farms. Britain's biggest dog show, Crufts has been postponed, the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association announced that no Irish horses would attend this month's Cheltenham Festival and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said the St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin had been called off.

The British Government has brought in sweeping measures to try to contain the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Prime Minister Tony Blair introduced fines of up to £5,000 ($7,200) to ensure people observed the no-go status imposed on large tracts of rural Britain. Chief Veterinary Officer Jim Scudamore said on Thursday he expected more cases to emerge. He said officials were currently assessing whether it would be necessary to cull wildlife to prevent foxes and deer spreading the disease.

A worldwide ban on British livestock and animal products is in force, costing the country an estimated £8 million ($12 million) a week in lost sales.

Europe vets to extend UK meat ban
February 26, 2001
EU urges traces to beat foot-and-mouth
February 26, 2001
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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