Disease 'crosses' Irish border

A farm in Meigh, South Armagh, has signs of the disease

There are fears the foot-and-mouth outbreak could be on the brink of an epidemic after it emerged the disease may have spread to the Irish Republic.

Almost 250 sheep suspected of being infected were taken to an abattoir in Roscommon from a farm in Northern Ireland.

On Wednesday, Northern Ireland's agriculture minister said her department believed there was an outbreak among sheep in Meigh, south Armagh. The animals were bought at a market in Carlisle.

Nine new incidences have been confirmed elsewhere in Britain.

Farmers' leaders are warning that shoppers will notice a marked increase in imported meat, as stocks of home-produced beef, lamb and pork are running low.

Click here to see map of confirmed cases

On Wednesday, the Irish Premier Bertie Ahern held talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair about how to prevent contamination reaching Ireland.

The disease has not been seen on the island of Ireland for 60 years.

At Westminster, MPs spent six hours debating what the Conservatives are calling the "crisis in agriculture".

Fresh outbreaks

On Wednesday there were two new outbreaks in Wales, two in Leicestershire and others in Herefordshire, Lancashire, Warwickshire, Essex and Devon, bringing to 27 the total of confirmed cases in England and Wales.

Latest outbreaks

A farm at Painscastle near Hay on Wye, Powys, Wales

A farm at Felindre near Newtown, Powys, Wales

A farm at Llangorran, Herefordshire

An abattoir at Great Harwood, near Preston, Lancashire

A sheep farm in Stonesby, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

A farm at Highampton in Devon

Lindley Hall Farm near Hinckley in Leicestershire

A farm in Warwickshire

A farm near Chelmsford in Essex

Fears of disease spreading have led France to announce that an additional 30,000 sheep which came into contact with British animals are to be destroyed.

This is on top of a cull of 20,000 sheep.

The total number of animals slaughtered or due to be destroyed in Britain is now believed to stand at 11,000, with 102 farms around the country under restrictions.

The government has extended the ban on livestock movement around the UK until at least 16 March and has announced a £170m farmers' compensation package.

Police guard sealed-off farms

Agriculture Minister Nick Brown has proposed a scheme for the movement of disease-free livestock to abattoirs under licence.

Cattle and sheep will be held at sterilised collection centres, from which all farmers will be barred, before being sent for slaughter.

Pigs, which are more likely to carry the disease, will only be sent directly to abattoirs.

Royal appeal

The Prince of Wales has voiced strong sympathy for farmers hit by the foot-and mouth outbreak and said the rural community had suffered "miserably" in recent years.

Footpaths around Britain are being closed to the public

He used an anniversary party for BBC Radio 4's countryside soap The Archers to say how deeply he felt for farmers and others, such as hauliers, who face losing their livelihoods.

"I feel I must just add my own plea that everyone should try and do everything they can to avoid unnecessary movement around the countryside," he said.

In Germany officials confirmed that checks made on a consignment of sheep imported from the UK had revealed signs of the disease, although the latest tests were negative.

Meanwhile farm workers and road hauliers in Britain fear for their future.

The Road Haulage Association says the ban on moving livestock is costing the industry £4m a week.

The GMB said £16.70 statutory compensation to cover five days for laid-off farm workers was inadequate.

Emergency measures

Livestock movement ban extended

Horse racing suspended

Ireland v Wales rugby postponed

National parks closed

Access to Scottish Mountains suspended

Reservoir sites in Wales closed to public

Marwell Zoo closed

Chief Veterinary Officer Jim Scudamore said further suspected outbreaks were being investigated in areas as far apart as Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire, and Lewdown, Devon.

With three confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth in Wales, Welsh Water have closed all reservoir sites to the public.

The Snowdonia National Park has already closed car parks and is issuing 20,000 Keep Out signs to farmers.

Access to footpaths in Glencoe and Ben Nevis in Scotland has been suspended leading to fears for the highland tourist industry which generates about £30m per year.

Return to text