Second case of foot and mouth

A SECOND confirmed case of foot and mouth disease in Britain yesterday was described by Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan as “disappointing but not surprising”.

She said she had been aware the infected herd at Egham, Surrey had been culled on a precautionary basis on premises adjacent to that on which a case had been confirmed on Wednesday.

Ms Coughlan confirmed the management committee of her department’s National Disease Control Centre met yesterday to review the most recent developments and noted that a new EU Commission decision had been adopted.

Meanwhile, departmental officials have been maintaining contact with Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in London and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Belfast.

Ms Coughlan said all livestock imports from Britain since live trade resumed after the initial cases in early August have been inspected by veterinary personnel and none have shown any signs suggestive of foot and mouth disease.

She said she would be discussing and reviewing the situation with senior officials over the weekend and with European ministerial colleagues at an EU Agriculture Council meeting in Portugal early next week.

Ms Coughlan said the recent events in Britain were a wake-up call for Ireland on the absolute necessity for bio-security measures.