Foot and Mouth Update

For the latest details on the Foot and Mouth disease please take a look at MAFF's official website http://www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/

With the help of David Funnell, we have pulled together some details off the MAFF website.

The Foot-and-Mouth Disease Declaratory (Controlled Area) Order 2001 and equivalent legislation in Scotland establishes the whole of Great Britain as a "controlled area" for seven days expiring midnight on Friday 2 March. (Note that technically there are two separate controlled areas, one covering England and Wales, and the other covering Scotland.)

National Foot and Mouth Disease Helpline
MAFF have set up a Helpline for callers wanting general advice on the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease

Telephone: 0845 0504141 (local rate)

The helpline is open between 8 am and 17:30pm Monday to Friday and from 9:00am and 17:00 on Saturday and Sunday.

Anyone wanting more specific information about restrictions on the movement of animals in the infected area in Essex or wishing to report suspicious signs in their animals or livestock, should contact their local MAFF Animal Health Divisional Office at any time

For enquiries on the export of live animals, ring 020 7904 6343

For enquiries on the export of meat and animal products ring 020 7904 6417/6418

For enquiries on the export of semen, embryos and ova, ring 020 7904 6442.

About the disease
Foot and mouth disease is an acute infectious viral disease causing fever, followed by the development of vesicles (blisters) - chiefly in the mouth and on the feet. It is probably more infectious than any other disease affecting animals and spreads rapidly if uncontrolled. Among farm stock, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer are susceptible.Wild and domestic cloven hooved animals and elephants, hedgehogs and rats are also susceptible.

Implications for dogs
Any dogs in an area infected with foot and mouth disease must be kept under control by their owners. This means that they must either:

be kept in a kennel or enclosure from which they cannot escape

or

be effectively secured to a fixed object by a collar and chain

or

they must be accompanied by and under the effectual control of the owner or a responsible person authorised by the owner.

If you are in an area declared to be infected with foot and mouth disease you must not let your dog run free; if you do, it may be seized by the local authority or the police and treated as a stray.

In addition, an inspector may serve a notice on anyone in the infected area to keep a dog under specific controls.

Dogs which are kept under proper control are not prevented from being moved. Certain sporting activities involving dogs are not allowed in areas infected with foot and mouth disease.

Cats are not affected.

For the latest details on the Foot and Mouth disease please take a look at MAFF's official website http://www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/

Date:25 Feb 2001, Author: Guy Redwood