Foot and Mouth, the next stage ? - Foot and Mouth

[John C]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6945900.stm

There are two more suspect cases being investigated.

Heres a fine example of spin from the Labour government, I produce an example from the link above.

Dr Reynolds said the test results were expected by the end of Tuesday or early Wednesday, but said the two new farms presented "a very low level concern".

If you think how many people must have trapsed around Chessington in the last week or two and then unwitting gone on home calling at other places, who knows where the disease is going to turn up next ?

[Penny]

I think the "very low level of concern" is because they must be almost 100% sure it is not, but tests being done due to the current circumstances. Most likely a case of interdigital dermatitis os similar

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Now both cleared

Duncan

[John C]

Phew ! Thank goodness for that

[groubearfarm]

Dare we hope that the virus has been contained? Things have gone very quiet on the question of how the virus ever escaped from the Pirbright Laboratories. With all the regulations that farmers are having to cope with I think that it is only fair that we get some answers, however I supose the chances of finding out the truth seem remote, we do not want a scapegoat.

[Duncan MacIntyre]

I will be totally amazed if we ever know the truth about how the virus got out. It seems to me that there is a strange incestuous relationship between the government lab, which is an important international reference lab for virus studies, and a commercial factory which is producing vaccine to help the Brazilians send cheap meat here to destroy our own farm incomes. It appears that the waste water from the factory is processed by Merial, then passed to the goverment lab and processed again before it is discharged. How could we ever apportion blame if there was an escape via the water effluent. Yet on the tiny island of Bute, when we had a new sewage works put in justified by the size of the equivalent populaton, the local creamery waste, which was cleared by the SEPA (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency) for discharge straight to the sea, could not be put into the Sewage Works effluent pipe in case of doubt if something went wrong. The sewage works got European finance based on the size of the population plus the equivalent of the Creamery in human terms, but they then refused to take the creamery waste. To have added it in to their effluent pipe would have been very cheap. They insisted on the creation of a completely independent pipe at a cost to Scottish Milk or Frist Milk as it is now, of £750,000. But Merial can pass their water to the government lab at Pirbright for treatment and discharge. I know this story may seem to many of you to have little to do with the current F & M situation, but I think it demonstrates admirably our wonderful government's double standards.

Duncan

[Inger]

It comes down to butt covering and money doesn't it?

[Duncan MacIntyre]

ANIMAL EXPORTS RESUME TO EU FOLLOWING CONTROL OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.
It has been agreed this morning that live animals and meat products can be exported from outside of the Surveillance Zone in Surrey from Saturday 25th August to the rest of the European Union.
Hilary Benn said:
“This is a clear demonstration of the confidence which the international community has in the disease control measures that we have taken in this outbreak. I would like to thank Animal Health, Local Authorities, industry partners and farmers and all those involved in this outbreak for their rapid response, hard work, and vigilance. Co-operation, and partnership working have been key to the success of the response to the outbreak thus far.”

Alongside this resumption of exports the GB wide movement ban on live animals will be lifted from midnight tonight outside of the Surveillance Zone in Surrey.
However, as a precautionary measure the following restrictions will remain in place

· Animals will need to remain on the premises they moved to for 20 days before being moved again, the only exception to this will be movements within the same holding of less than 8km.
· The current restrictions on animal markets, shows and gatherings will remain in place, and only collection centres for direct dispatch to slaughter will be permitted under licence. A further announcement will be made on this.

In addition the two 3km radius Protection Zones in Surrey will be lifted at noon tomorrow (24th). The Chief Veterinary Officer has decided that a 5km radius Temporary Pirbright Biosecurity Area be put in place around the Pirbright site. The 10km radius Surveillance Zone will remain in place.

Debby Reynolds said:

” The temporary area is a precautionary measure where we will be working with animal keepers and vets to ensure enhanced vigilance is maintained as we await the conclusions of the HSE investigation and the findings of the independent review led by Professor Brian Spratt.”

[Saffy]

Duncan I am sure what you are saying is correct but it doesn't look as if the people that are supposed to advise us actually know what is going on. Its a bit of a worry.

Having read a report on the lifting of the ban on the internet lunchtime I called the Welsh Office.

They didn't seem to know a thing about it and said that it may apply to England and not to Wales but would call me back.

When they called back they said that as far as they knew it wasn't true and that if it was there would still have to be a 21 day standstill.

Stephanie

[Martin]

The good news is on DEFRA's website and on fwi (Farmers Weekly web site).Thank goodness it appears to be over, maybe normality will break out in the whole of the UK.
Good luck everyone.
Martin.

[happy hollidays]

I was a bit shocked when last wekend we went to the Hop Farm (events and small farm mainly) for the monstor trucks racing. There were thousands of spectators but no signs whatsoever to remind you of FMD even though they have pigs, cows inc. a Dexter etc. and they encourage you to touch the animals. Good job FMD appears to be over.