Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Restrictions lifted on 8,500 farms as foot–and–mouth epidemic eases

Associated Press
Thursday 08 November 2001 20:00 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Britain's livestock industry took a step closer to a full recovery from a foot–and–mouth epidemic as restrictions on 8,500 farms in northern England were lifted.

Britain's livestock industry took a step closer to a full recovery from a foot–and–mouth epidemic as restrictions on 8,500 farms in northern England were lifted.

The move by the Department for Environment, or Defra, left just 6,630 farms restricted by disease controls, down from more than 140,000 at the epidemic's height.

It has been more than five weeks since the last new case of foot–and–mouth, raising hopes that the livestock disease has been contained.

However, a senior health official warned Tuesday that the risk of a fresh outbreak remained high because the disease could lie dormant somewhere in Britain.

Rural Affairs Minister Lord Whitty repeated those concerns Thursday as he welcomed the latest lifting of livestock movement restrictions.

"I would emphasize that now, as always, vigilance and strict biosecurity are essential," he said. "We cannot afford to relax our guard."

Foot–and–mouth is a highly contagious disease that causes wasting in cloven–hoofed animals such as cows, sheep and pigs. While neither fatal to animals nor infectious in humans, it can ravage a country's livestock trade.

After more than 30 disease–free years, foot–and–mouth was found Feb. 20 among pigs in a slaughterhouse. By Sept. 30, 2,030 cases had been confirmed across Britain.

Nearly 4 million animals have been slaughtered by the government in its fight to contain the disease.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in