Fear that spread rapidly throughout the UK last night as news broke of a possible new case of foot and mouth disease at a Yorkshire farm, were eased this morning as lab reports appeared to confirm that the case was a false alarm.
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Mouth lesions, a tell-tale symptom of the highly infectious disease, were reported by a vet making routine inspections, in two sheep from among a flock of 400 at a farm in Hawnby that was first hit by the epidemic six months ago. The farm lost its entire stock last August, when it was culled because of infection.
Last night the rural affairs ministry (Defra) said that the lesions could have been caused by rough objects in the animals’ food rather than FMD infection, but livestock movement was banned within an eight kilometre (five mile) area of the farm as a precautionary measure. The farm itself was sealed off and all the businesses that supplied it with sheep will be traced and inspected.
The two affected sheep were slaughtered as a precaution, but samples of their lesions were confirmed negative for foot and mouth disease after urgent initial testing at the Institute of Animal Health laboratory at Pirbright in Surrey. The final results will not be known for another 96 hours.
Elliot Morley, the UK’s animal welfare minister, said: “We must take no chances with this very infectious disease. This suspect case underlines the need for farmers and vets to remain vigilant during the restocking period and lambing season, and to maintain high standards of biosecurity.”
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By GlobalDataIn nearby Cumbria meanwhile, rumours have been rife that Defra has been failing to report similar suspected cases. A sheep from one of the county’s “sentinel” herds (left to graze for 28 days before restocking commences), at Kirby Stephen, was found to be carrying foot-and-mouth antibodies, which might indicate that the animal had been in contact with the infection. However Defra revealed yesterday that the test results had emerged negative.
