Stay away from farmland, the Government warned both rural and urban dwellers last night as Ministry of Agriculture officials fought to stop foot-and-mouth disease spreading and an increasing number of farms come under emergency restrictions in a desperate attempt to stop the latest epidemic.
Agriculture Minister Nick Brown says people should stay away from high-risk areas.
A third case has been confirmed in cattle on a farm in Great Warley, near Brentwood in Essex and an exclusion zone is already in place. The farm is close to the site of the original outbreak at an abattoir and farm in Little Warley, near Brentwood.
There is a suspected case of the disease in pigs on a farm in Heddon-on-the-Wall in Northumberland which also been subjected to a five mile exclusion zone.
More than 600 farms are under emergency restrictions in an attempt to restrict the spread of the disease.
Hunting has been suspended across Britain and the Countryside Alliance says the suspension will last for seven days. The CA also appealed to its supporters to observe any restrictions still in place when its rally for farmers and country-dwellers happens on March 18th. The move follows Britain’s first major outbreak of the disease for 20 years. The disease is so contagious it can spread on the wind.
Animal rights campaigners have urged the CA to cancel the event claiming crowds of farmers on the streets of London could spread the disease.
Ramblers and dog owners are being urged to abandon any plans for country walks amid fears that even fleeting contact could cause the bug to spread.
Angling and even driving and horse racing are under threat if the disease takes hold because of the restrictions on movement through affected areas.
Yesterday Agriculture Minister Nick Brown said the extent of the outbreak would not be known for 24 to 48 hours because of the incubation period for the virus.
