|
|
|
New FMD case confirmed in southern EnglandLONDON (AP)--Livestock on a farm in southern England have tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease, the third confirmed case in a new outbreak of the virus, officials said Sept. 18. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the disease had been confirmed on a farm where sheep, pigs and cattle were killed Sept. 17. Officials slaughtered all livestock on the farm after initial blood tests suggested the animals had been infected with the disease, which has struck cattle and sheep on farms close to a medical research laboratory. The confirmed case was inside a 3-kilometer (1.9-mile) protection zone set up around two other cases confirmed last week in Surrey county, south of London. The cases in mid-September were discovered just five days after the government declared Surrey free of the disease. Government vets confirmed the disease was the same strain found at two other locations several miles (kilometers) away where a FMD outbreak began Aug. 3 but was believed to have been stamped out. An inquiry said the disease had likely spread from a laboratory facility shared by the government-funded Institute for Animal Health and Merial Animal Health, a British unit of the U.S.-French pharmaceutical firm Merial Ltd. FMD affects cloven-hoofed animals including cows, sheep, pigs and goats. It does not infect humans, but its appearance on farms can have a major economic impact. The August outbreak led Britain to slaughter about 600 animals and suspend exports of livestock, meat and milk products for nearly three weeks. 10/8/07 Date: 10/3/07 Advertisement
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2009. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
Market Snapshot Inside Futures |
