2001: Foot-and-mouth scare at UK abbatoir

A five-mile exclusion zone has been placed around an abbatoir in Essex after a suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease was detected.

If confirmed, this would be the first case of the disease in the UK for 20 years.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Maff) said the discovery was made during a "routine" inspection of the premises by the State Veterinary Service.

The exclusion zone will prevent the transport of pigs, sheeps, goats and cattle while an investigation is carried out.

At this stage 27 pigs are showing symptoms of the disease. It is understood the pigs were transported from two farms - one in Buckinghamshire and one in the Isle of Wight, where exclusion zones have also been set up.

'Very, very worrying'

Foot-and-mouth is a highly infectious viral disease which can affect cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. It is characterised by the development of blisters in the mouth causing increased salivation and lameness.

The last case of the disease was seen in Britain in 1981. The last major outbreak was in 1967 when 442,000 animals were slaughtered.

Farmers are now being urged to check their stock for signs of the disease, which include lameness and loss of appetite.

The Food Standards Agency said the outbreak, if confirmed, would have no implications on the food chain.

The Agriculture Secretary Nick Brown said if foot-and-mouth was confirmed it would be essential to contain the disease as quickly as possible.

Spokesperson for the National Farmers' Union (NFU), Peter Stewart, said: "Foot-and-mouth is one of the most devastating diseases in pigs and cattle.

"It's the speed of spread and the fact the entire herd has got to be completely wiped out. It's a very, very worrying disease."

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