No risk to humans from foot and mouth outbreak

The Food Safety Promotion Board has moved to reassure consumers that they are not at risk from the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Chief Food Safety Consultant Dr Thomas Quigley said that the disease, which affects cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, could not be caught by humans eating meat or drinking milk.

"Only in extremely rare cases is the disease transmitted to humans," he said.

"In these cases it can only be passed on by close physical contact with an infected animal".