Seven new UK foot-and-mouth cases

Britain has culled thousands of animals to try and stop the outbreak

LONDON, England -- Seven more cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed in the UK, taking the total number of sites affected to 39.

The new cases confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture are in the English counties of Worcestershire, Tyne and Wear, Wiltshire, Staffordshire.

Another case has also been reported in the southern Scottish county of Dumfries and Galloway.

Drastic action is being taken in the Republic of Ireland to try to prevent the disease crossing the border after a case was confirmed in Northern Ireland on Thursday.

Three farms near the border have been placed under a restriction order, along with a farm and a meat processing plant which may have had deliveries from the affected Northern Ireland site.

The Irish government has told hauliers they will need special permits to move animals from any farm, more soldiers have been called in to guard the border, and this month's St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, due to take place on March 17, has also been called off.

Authorities have stressed that all the latest moves were precautionary and there was no firm evidence the disease has reached the republic.

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.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Jim Scudamore has warned that livestock markets throughout Britain, which are already shut, may now also be put under restrictions.

Scudamore said the disease may linger in places where infected animals pass through, such as markets, and steps must be taken to avoid future problems.

One Cumbrian farmer is to face prosecution for allegedly moving cattle in breach of regulations to contain the disease.

The highly infectious virus can travel on car tyres

The disease can travel miles by air or on clothing or vehicle tyres.

The British Government has brought in sweeping measures including fines of up to £5,000 ($7,200) to ensure people observe the no-go status imposed on large tracts of rural Britain.

But the united front that Britain has so far presented, slipped as Prime Minister Tony Blair becoming embroiled in a dispute with supermarkets.

Blair on Thursday night accused supermarkets of having farmers in an "arm-lock" to produce cheap food, threatening quality standards.

The Asda chain, which has already announced that some stores have run out of pork and lamb, on Friday struck back, accusing Blair of looking for a "scapegoat."

An Asda spokesman said: "If Mr Blair wants to play politics and scrabble around looking for a scapegoat, then that is up to him.

"We were under the impression that it was the Ministry of Agriculture, and not the supermarkets, which set agri-policy in this country."

In another development, British farmers could now be allowed to send livestock from areas free of foot-and-mouth disease to abattoirs amid fears of meat shortages, said Junior Agriculture Minister Baroness Hayman.

Hayman said special licences could be issued as early as Monday, the first easing of strict bans on livestock movement around the country.

Amid fears that the disease could spread to continental Europe the EU has banned all British exports of animals, fresh meat and milk while thousands of British-exported animals have been destroyed in France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Foot-and-mouth restrictions extended
March 1, 2001
Europe vets to extend UK meat ban
February 26, 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

UK Ministry of Agriculture: Foot-and-Mouth-Disease
European Union
European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease
National Farmers' Union

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