South Korea bans UK pork after outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease

SEOUL (Thomson Financial) - The South Korean government has banned the import of pork and pigs from the UK after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease there, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said Monday. The ministry said all quarantine inspections of UK pork have been suspended until further notice. 'Currently there are no shipments being held for quarantine inspections, but if any further ones arrive they will be sent back or destroyed,' said chief veterinary officer Kim Chang-Seob.

So far this year 64 live pigs and 804 tons of pork have been imported from the UK, equivalent to 0.5 percent of total imports. South Korea has not imported UK beef since the UK was hit by mad cow disease.

Source: Forbes.Com 6/8/07

Disease lab results 'by Tuesday'

Inspectors probing the suspected source of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Surrey hope to have the results of their inquiries in the next 36 hours. The Health and Safety Executive is examining whether the Pirbright site could have been the source of the outbreak which was confirmed on Friday. Two facilities at the Pirright complex were using a strain of the virus for research and for vaccines. It was the same strain found at an infected farm four miles away.

Biosecurity denial

Inspectors are initially focusing their investigation on private pharmaceutical company Merial, which develops vaccines, as it had most recently used the strain. Both it and the publicly funded Institute for Animal Health research facility, deny there has been a breach in biosecurity. Merial's managing director David Biland said on Monday while the company had suspended vaccine production, staff would be attending work to assist investigators. He added: "To date our investigations continue to show no breach in our procedures. "However, it is still too early in this investigation for anyone to determine the cause of the outbreak."

Vigilance call

Professor Martin Shirley, director of the Institute for Animal Heath, where there has been limited use of the strain in the past month, said it had launched its own inquiry. "We're looking at the functioning of the laboratory in the same way that our colleagues at Merial have also looked at their facility as well," he said. "And it's exactly what I think you would expect for an institute running an complex laboratory to begin to assess the functioning of it over the past few weeks."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has asked for the results of the investigation to be available by Tuesday. Mr Brown said the efforts were to "contain, control and then eradicate this disease". He said the ban on the movement of cows, sheep and pigs would remain in place.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said around 120 cows in all had been culled in response to the outbreak. Susceptible animals on a farm next to the affected premises had been slaughtered as a precaution because of "potentially dangerous contact".

Protection zone

Farmer Derrick Pride, whose cattle were at the centre of the outbreak, said: "It is nothing to do with us. It is not our fault. It is something beyond our control." There have so far not been any further outbreaks, but Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has urged people to remain vigilant as the source has not been confirmed. He said that the facilities at Pirbright were being redeveloped following a report made in 2002, as a result of the foot-and-mouth outbreak the previous year, which had criticisms of the institute.

The strain of the disease identified at Wolford farm, near Guildford, was also used in a batch of vaccine manufactured on 16 July by Merial. Defra has increased the size of the protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area to 10km. The strain of foot-and-mouth identified is not one normally found in animals but is used in vaccine production and in diagnostic laboratories.

In a statement, Defra said: "The present indications are that this strain is a 01 BFS67-like virus, isolated in the 1967 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Great Britain." A review of biosecurity measures at Pirbright will be led by Professor Brian Spratt of Imperial College London, who will report back to Mr Benn.

A ban on the movement of all livestock is in place in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has imposed a ban on all cattle, sheep and pigs from Britain, but there are currently no restrictions on the movement of livestock within NI and across the border. Britain has also imposed a voluntary ban on exports of all animals and animal products and the European Commission said it would ban live animal exports from the UK.

Source: BBC News 6/8/07

Govt considered importing foot-mouth vaccine

Federal Government agencies were considering importing a live foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine from the British laboratory which may have been the source of a new disease outbreak. Animal Health Australia had suggested bringing in the vaccine to prepare for any potential outbreak of FMD in Australia.

But the plan has angered farmers and Greg Brown from Agforce in Queensland says the latest outbreak suggests the testing and manufacturing of vaccines is a risk. "We were very concerned," he said. "We were prepared to listen, but as far as we're concerned now there really isn't any argument. "If complete security cannot be maintained, at a place like Pirbright, I couldn't see that it could possibly occur here in Australia."

Federal Agricultural Minister Peter McGauran says because of the outbreak, it is unlikely any vaccines will now be imported.

Australian veterinarians are available to travel to the UK to assist authorities after the latest outbreak of the disease in southern England. Australian vets helped to fight a similar outbreak in 2001.

Dr Diane Sheehan, the president of Australian Veterinary Association, says it is in the interests of our domestic market that the outbreak is contained. "You need vets on the ground with expertise and training that can identify whether or not animals are effected or not and whether or not an infection has jumped a containment zone," she said.

Source: ABC News 6/8/07

Foot-and-mouth strain identified

The strain of foot-and-mouth disease found at a Surrey farm has been identified, Defra has said. The strain in infected cattle is identical to that used at the Institute for Animal Health, at Pirbright, about three miles from the farm. Defra could not say the laboratory was the source but has increased the size of the protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area. An urgent assessment of biosecurity has begun at the institute.

Precautionary measures

The strain is not one normally found in animals but is used in vaccine production and in diagnostic laboratories. In a statement Defra said: "The present indications are that this strain is a 01 BFS67-like virus, isolated in the 1967 foot and mouth disease outbreak in Great Britain." The strain was used in a vaccine batch manufactured last month by a private pharmaceutical company Merial Animal Health.

The firm shares Pirbright with the government's Institute for Animal Health (IAH), which conducts research into foot-and-mouth and where the strain is also present. Merial voluntarily halted vaccine production as a precaution. Defra said: "This incident remains at an early stage. It is too soon to reach any firm conclusions. "All potential sources of the virus will continue to be investigated. "All other precautionary measures announced yesterday [Friday] remain in place."

Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds said it was too soon to say anything conclusive about the source of the virus but it was clear which strain was involved. "That is carried at the Pirbright facility, at Meriel for vaccine production, and indeed at the Institute for Animal Health, on the same premises on the same location for diagnostic purposes," she said.

Merial said in a statement: "The decision to suspend production has been taken in full consultation with Defra and will enable Defra to carry out a thorough investigation into all possible sources of this outbreak." The UK's chief vet has ordered a single protection zone to encompass both the infected farm premises and the Pirbright site, with a single 10km radius surveillance zone.

There has been a cull of one other herd of cattle adjacent to the farm as a precautionary measure but there were no signs of infection in any animals there, Ms Reynolds confirmed. She appealed to farmers to be vigilant and to check their animals for any sign of foot-and-mouth disease.

Andrew Biggs, of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, said: "It doesn't surprise me greatly. The proximity of this farm to Pirbright was something some of us had noticed." Leading microbiologist Hugh Pennington told the BBC that identification of the type of strain was a "tribute to the strength of the science of foot-and-mouth". Paul Temple, of the National Farmers' Union, said he was keeping an open mind over the situation.

A UK-wide ban on the movement of livestock put in place after foot-and-mouth was confirmed at Wolford farm, near Guildford, on Friday night will continue. Some 64 cattle have since been culled after testing positive for the foot-and-mouth. Following the outbreak on this farm a 3km protection zone was put in place around the premises, close to the village of Wanborough, to try to halt the spread of the disease which wreaked havoc across the UK in 2001. There was also a 10km surveillance zone where nearby animals are monitored, as well as an 8km air exclusion zone around the site. The outbreak in 2001 led to between 6.5 million and 10 million animals being destroyed and cost as much as ฃ8.5bn.

Source: BBC News 5/8/07

Disease strain linked to nearby lab

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on a farm in Surrey is being linked to a nearby animal research laboratory, with fears the virus could have leaked from the facility. Officials from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the strain detected in cattle is the same as one being used at the Pirbright lab a few miles from the infected area. They could not say definitely that the laboratory is the source of the disease but immediately increased the size of the protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area.

Defra said the strain is not one recently found in animals but is similar to ones used in diagnostic laboratories and vaccine production. The strain is present at the Institute of Animal Health at Pirbright and was used in a vaccine batch manufactured last month by a pharmaceutical company which shares the site, Defra said. The company, Merial Animal Health, has halted vaccine production on a precautionary basis.

In response to the findings, chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds ordered a single protection zone to encompass both the infected farm premises and the Pirbright site, with a single 10km radius surveillance zone. An urgent review has also been launched into biosecurity arrangements at Pirbright, led by Professor Brian Spratt of Imperial University, who will report to Environment Secretary Hilary Benn and Dr Reynolds.

Following the discovery of FMD on the farm near Guildford, the cattle were culled. Dr Reynolds said a cull had also taken place on an adjacent premises which had been identified as having "dangerous contact" with the infected herd. But she said a number of other potential cases reported in the wake of the outbreak had all proved to be negative.

Source: South London Press 5/08/07

Britain tries to restrict foot and mouth outbreak

LONDON (Reuters) 4/8/07 - Britain moved rapidly to contain an outbreak of foot and mouth, a highly infectious disease that devastated farming six years ago, by isolating a farm west of London on Saturday.

The European Commission said it had banned all live animal exports from the United Kingdom, as well as meat and dairy products from the infected area. Further restrictions could be brought in after EU veterinary experts meet on Wednesday.

Keen to avoid a repeat of the government's much-criticized response to the 2001 crisis, Brown said officials would work "day and night" to stem the outbreak discovered in a small herd of cattle on Friday. Authorities set up a 3-km radius (1.7 mile) exclusion zone and a wider 10 km surveillance area around the infected farm in the county of Surrey. Within that area is a laboratory used by the Institute for Animal Health to test foot-and-mouth samples. Movement of all pigs, sheep and cattle throughout the country was banned as a further precautionary measure. Despite the precautions, Ireland announced it was banning the import of British meat, livestock and non-pasteurized milk, and said it would not export live animals to Britain either.

Britain's agriculture ministry said it had voluntarily suspended all exports of animal carcasses, meat and milk to the European Union. Depending on how long the bans remain in place, the impact on British agriculture could be profound. Industry experts said British exports of livestock and meat were worth around 15 million pounds ($30 million) a week.

In the 2001 outbreak more than six million animals were slaughtered, many of them burned on huge bonfires. The cost to agriculture and rural tourism of that weeks-long outbreak was estimated at 8.5 billion pounds ($17 bln) and Brown's predecessor, Tony Blair, was strongly criticized for his government's handling of the problem.

Quick Action

On Saturday, workers from the agriculture department wearing protective suits, black gloves and masks were seen herding the 60 or so infected cattle towards a pen where they were expected to be slaughtered. The disease, which can travel on the wind and on farming equipment, causes high fevers and blisters in cloven-hoofed animals and often leads to death. It is very rarely transferred to humans. Experts said Britain was better placed now to deal with the outbreak than it had been in 2001.

"We've got the administrative structures, we've got the infrastructure and we've got the scientific capability," leading microbiologist Hugh Pennington told the BBC

"All these things were tested and found to be wanting in 2001. Lessons have been learned and I'm confident we'll do much, much better this time." With memories still fresh of the long-term damage caused by the outbreak six years ago, the farming industry backed the government's action. "People have to understand that last time the delay occurred caused the further spread," National Farmers' Union president Peter Kendall said. "Going through short-term inconvenience now is a price worth paying if we can keep this to a single location."

U.S. bans some UK animal products

WASHINGTON 4/8/07 - -- The U.S. Agriculture DepartmentSaturday said it has banned pork and pork products from Britain due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease on a farm west of London. The United States had already restricted all live ruminants, such as cattle and sheep, and their products from the United Kingdom due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. However, this ruling

"Immediately, USDA is placing restrictions or prohibitions, depending on the type of product and level of processing, on all UK products derived from any (Foot and Mouth Disease) susceptible species. This includes any products already en route to the United States," said Andrea Morgan, an official with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. British authorities set up a 3-km radius exclusion zone and a wider 10 km surveillance area around the infected farm in the county of Surrey. Movement of all pigs, sheep and cattle throughout the country for trade or other purposes was banned as a further precautionary measure.

Foot-and mouth-disease is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, swine, and other animals. It can not be transmitted to humans. Britain had an outbreak of foot and mouth just six years ago when more than six million animals were slaughtered, many of them burned on huge bonfires. Britain accounts for just a small percent of U.S. pork imports.

Source: Reuters - August 04, 2007

Foot-And-Mouth Disease Detected in UK

LONDON (AP)4/8/07 - - Scientists worked Saturday to trace the source of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak on an English farm, a development that prompted the European Union to ban livestock imports from Britain, an official said. British authorities moved quickly to try and contain the outbreak of the highly infectious disease, imposing a nationwide ban on moving livestock. Six years ago, an epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease in Britain devastated the farming industry.

``There will be a ban on exports within the European Union. That is automatically imposed as a result of the finding of foot-and-mouth disease,'' Cabinet Office Minister Ed Miliband told the British Broadcasting Corp. In a statement, the European Commission said it would adopt an emergency decision Monday ``concerning restrictions on the movement of animals and the dispatch of products from the U.K.'' Japan banned British pork imports following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in southern England, Japanese agriculture ministry said Saturday. Japan had already banned beef imports from Britain since the 2001 outbreak of mad cow disease.

The case is the first in Britain since 2001, when a foot and mouth epidemic led to the slaughter of 7 million livestock. Many of the carcasses were burned on huge pyres that dotted the country, and large swaths of countryside were declared off-limits to visitors, damaging tourism. At that time, the government was accused of reacting too slowly, allowing the highly infectious disease to spread. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn cut short their holidays when they learned of the new outbreak and were due to hold a meeting of the government's crisis committee, COBRA, on Saturday.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, or DEFRA, said animals on a farm near Guildford, about 30 miles southwest of London, had tested positive for the disease, which affects cows, horses, sheep and pigs. It does not affect humans. DEFRA did not immediately say how many animals were infected, but said all animals on the farm would be slaughtered.

At the infected farm, veterinary workers in protective white coveralls rounded up cattle. Vehicles entering and leaving he farm were sprayed with disinfectant. Authorities imposed a two-mile radius protection zone and a surveillance zone of six miles around the farm. DEFRA said a ban was also imposed nationwide on moving all hooved animals, including pigs. Scientists were carrying out tests to determine the strain of the disease, and whether vaccination would be possible to halt its spread.

The government was criticized for not using vaccines in the 2001 epidemic. A report on the epidemic by a senior scientific body, the Royal Society, concluded that vaccination should be a major tool of first resort in the event of future outbreaks. ``The laboratory tests are already under way and the earliest possible information will probably come during the later part of today,'' said the country's chief veterinarian, Debby Reynolds. She said investigations would try to determine whether the virus reached Britain through the illegal movement of animals, on the wind or by accidental contamination. Reynolds said it was too early to say how far the disease might spread. She said that at a meeting late Friday, ``we looked at the immediate response and we looked at how that would potentially emerge over coming days and weeks and we noted that both the latter aspects are extremely uncertain.''

Nearby farmers were worried, but hopeful that quick action would contain the disease. ``We are keeping our fingers crossed but there is really nothing we can do about it except wait,'' said Michael More-Molyneux, whose farm is about five miles from the infected site.

The 2001 outbreak started with a pig herd in northern England and spread to cows and sheep. It eventually infected more than 2,000 farms and shut Britain out of the world's livestock export markets. Huge pyres of culled livestock belched smoke and the countryside was effectively shut down, devastating the tourist industry. British taxpayers shelled out more than $2 billion for compensation, disinfecting, veterinarians and the slaughter. The total cost to the country was estimated at $16 billion at current values. It was almost a year before Britain was declared free of the disease, and months more before British exports were allowed to resume. Tim Bonner, spokesman for the Countryside Alliance, said farmers were extremely worried by the latest outbreak. ``Farmers around the country will be hoping and praying that this is an isolated incident and that the disease is not already widespread, because last time when we found out about it, it was already everywhere,'' he said. ``We hope and pray that the lessons from last time have been learned.''

Source: Guardian Unlimited 4th August 07 By JILL LAWLESS