EU accepts UK foot-and-mouth plea

A vast grave is prepared in Scotland

European Union veterinary experts have approved a British request to use vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease.

The EU's Standing Veterinary Committee will allow up to 180,000 cattle in Cumbria and Devon to be innoculated.

The British Government had sought a limited emergency exemption from the EU's decade-long vaccination ban to create a barrier around the worst-hit areas.

In the Netherlands, which received permission to vaccinate livestock on Friday, two new cases have been reported, bringing the total to seven.

In France two more farms, both in the north-west of the country, have been placed under surveillance. But there was better news from Denmark where three suspected cases, announced on Tuesday, were reported to be false alarms.

Vaccination concerns

The UK has already notched up more than 700 cases and the army is now assisting in the slaughter.

The new Dutch cases, involving cattle and goats, were in the same area as the five previously detected cases, about 100km east of Amsterdam.

Culling has already begun there, and up to 10 suspect sites, including areas in the south of the country, are undergoing tests.

EU governments have so far resisted calls for a wider immunization campaign, warning of disastrous consequences for livestock exporters who would lose disease-free status on world markets.

Vaccination facts

Not 100% reliable

10 days to take effect

May not be fully effective for three weeks

Repeat injections required

The Netherlands was authorised to carry out a limited "firewall" inoculation program around infected farms after authorities said they did not have the capacity quickly to slaughter and destroy all animals at risk.

Vaccinations began this week.

The new French farms placed under surveillance, in the Finistere department, have 200 calves imported from Ireland.

The EU experts' panel is also debating vaccination requests from zoos who fear the disease could spread to their grazing animals such as giraffes, antelope, camels or elephants.

Exports blocked

Brussels is seeking the advice of the World Organization for Animal Health which determines the foot-and-mouth status of its 157 members.

A farmer with his lambs in the Dutch north - so far unaffected

Since vaccinated animals carry similar antibodies as those infected with the disease, countries that vaccinate lose full "foot-and-mouth-free" trading status.

That status is only restored three months after the last vaccinated animal is slaughtered.

But the EU fears its exporters could face a long-term ban.

European meat traders are already suffering from temporary bans imposed by nations around the world which have blocked 94% of EU beef exports and 73% of foreign pork sales.

Elsewhere in the EU, two cases have been found in France, and one in Ireland.