Blair hints at vaccine policy change

Up to half a million sheep are to be buried

Prime Minister Tony Blair has hinted that the government could change policy and start vaccinating against foot-and-mouth disease.

In an exclusive interview with BBC Radio 4's Farming Today he said there had been a significant shift in opinion about the use of the controversial vaccine.

"As you track the disease and see how it spreads, things that may have seemed utterly unpalatable a short time ago, have to be on the agenda," he said.

'Every resource of government is being put to deal with it'

Agriculture Minister Nick Brown is also expected to unveil new measures to fight the disease on Tuesday, thought to include a ban on the use of pigswill and restrictions on the movement of sheep.

There are fears that foot-and-mouth might have entered the country in illegally imported meat which ended up as pigswill.

The number of cases around the country has now reached 649.

The European Union is expected to extend a ban on French exports of livestock, and has authorised the Netherlands to begin "firewall" vaccinations around infected areas.

Five outbreaks of the disease have been confirmed there, while two cases have been found in France and one in the Republic of Ireland.

In the UK, the Army has already started a mass burial of sheep in Cumbria to help clear the huge backlog of slaughtered animals awaiting disposal.

Vaccination drawbacks

Hard to recognise vaccinated animal

Cost of vaccinating 300 million animals

Protection for six to nine months only

Some countries refuse to import vaccinated animals

The slaughter of a further 40,000 animals on Anglesey begins on Tuesday in an attempt to create a "firebreak" against the spread of the disease.

Until now, the government has favoured a slaughter and burn policy, avoiding vaccination out of concerns that it would hit future export markets as the UK would lose its status as a "disease free" zone.

Supporters of vaccination argue that it could be used to 'ring fence' outbreaks.

Crisis in the UK

Total confirmed cases 649

615,428 animals due for slaughter

118,627 cattle, 420,519 sheep, 46,021 pigs, 261 goats

388,038 already slaughtered

291,470 carcasses destroyed

Mr Blair said opinions were rapidly changing: "A few days ago even, this was generally regarded as anathema to very large parts of the farming community."

He acknowledged vaccination would have consequences for the farming industry for the future.

"But we keep this under review, we are urgently looking at all those possible options for the future," he said.

Mr Blair dismissed suggestions the crisis in the countryside was not a priority for the government.

"Every single sinew, every resource of government is being put to deal with it," he said.

Imported meat

Reports in The Times newspaper claim illegally imported meat served in a Chinese restaurant is being investigated as a likely source of the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

Pigswill facts

Mostly catering/food waste

Farmers using swill must be licensed

Swill heated at 100C for one hour to kill bacteria

Used by about one percent of pig farmers

About 80,000 swill-fed pigs

The paper says that infected waste meat from the restaurant apparently ended up in swill fed to pigs on a farm at Heddon-on-the-Wall in Northumberland, where the outbreak is thought to have started.

Mr Brown insists the government will exterminate the disease, even though the situation may get worse before it improves.

As well as a ban on pigswill - currently used by fewer than 100 UK farmers - the Agriculture Minister is also expected to announce restrictions on the sale of livestock.

Farmers would not be allowed to sell sheep, goats or cattle until three weeks after purchase.