Foot-and-mouth: New NI guidelines

NI has not had a further outbreak following infection at Meigh

The Northern Ireland executive has issued revised guidelines on foot-and-mouth disease.

It says the main threat is from outside Northern Ireland.

It adds: "This means we can now issue new guidelines which will result in less restriction on activities within Northern Ireland, in particular for sporting, cultural and social events and tourism. However we must keep up our guard.

"The spread of the disease would have a devastating impact on our economy."

The guidelines

Farmers

Keep movement on and off farms to an absolute minimum.

Observe strictly the hygiene and cleanliness measures already announced by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Stay away from sporting, cultural and social events. Stay away from ports, airports and any other areas where they might possibly come into contact with the virus.

In particular, they should avoid going anywhere near the two 10 km surveillance zones in County Armagh and County Louth.

Visitors

Visitors to Northern Ireland are very welcome but should:

Follow the DARD guidance distributed by the airlines and ferry operators.

If they have been in contact with farms or livestock in Great Britain or elsewhere, they must declare this to a Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Inspector on arrival.

Should avoid any contact with farms or livestock during their stay, and should stay well clear of the 10 km surveillance zones.

Should not bring any foodstuffs into Northern Ireland.

The public

May visit the countryside, but should avoid farmland, or land immediately adjacent to farmland, and contact with livestock.

They too should avoid going anywhere near the two 10 km surveillance zones.

May travel to Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, but should avoid contact with farms and livestock there.

On their return to Northern Ireland they should follow the guidance for visitors to Northern Ireland, and co-operate with all measures put in place at ports and airports.

Events and public amenities

Sporting, cultural and social events may resume, but farmers and their families, and others who have had contact with livestock should avoid them.

Events involving large gatherings of people close to farmland should not take place.

Public amenities (including tourist attractions, country parks and most of the Public Angling Estate) may re-open, other than those which house livestock or other animals susceptible to the disease, or which are adjacent to farmland.

Appropriate precautions should be taken in all cases.

Because of resource difficulties, not all venues may open at once.

Visitors should therefore check before making their journey.

All vehicles should be parked in designated car parks.

Dogs must be kept on a lead in rural areas.