Initial foot-and-mouth tests negative

Initial results of tests on a suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease at a north Yorkshire farm have proved negative,but final results will not be known for 96 hours.

Farmers are waiting to find out if foot-and-mouth has broken out again in the UK after suspect lesions were found in the mouths of two sheep at Mount Pleasant Farm in Hawnby, near Thirsk.

All livestock movements have been halted within a five-mile (eight-kilometre) radius, and government vets are inspecting four other farms in the county which supplied the farm with sheep.

Rosey Dunn, vice-chairman of the York County branch of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), said the initial test results would come as a massive relief to farmers.

She said: "Obviously it's great news; I'm absolutely delighted for the local Area. So far, so good.

Animals are routinely checked by vets when farms restock

"We shall have to wait for the final results but I am sure they will confirm what we expected and that's a negative. We can all breath a huge sigh of relief."

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has also said it is "cautiously optimistic" that samples from the two slaughtered sheep will test negative for the disease.

But Animal Welfare Minister Elliot Morley said the case underlined the need for continued vigilance.

The lesions were discovered on Tuesday by government vets carrying out an inspection visit required when farms restock.

Rural Affairs Secretary Margaret Beckett said the vet involved had not said he thought the animals had foot-and-mouth, only that he could not rule out the possibility.

"Even if it turns out to be a positive result, what we then have to do is trace back to see; have these animals contracted the disease because it is still on the farm?" she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

If not, the animals' origins would be traced to reveal whether a new pocket of disease elsewhere had been discovered - although there was no evidence of that.

Grazing

The lesions could have been caused by other conditions that can affect sheep.

But a return of the disease could devastate the farming industry, tourism and the countryside, and could mean Britain losing its disease-free status within the European Union.

Tests are being carried out at the Institute of Animal Health laboratory at Pirbright in Surrey.

If they've come out with this initial negative result as quickly as this, it's very encouraging indeed

Ian Woodhead
Neighbouring farmer

If the samples proved positive for foot-and-mouth, results were expected to come back quickly, but if negative, it could take four days.

If confirmed, it would be the first case of foot-and-mouth in the UK since September last year.

NFU local group secretary Peter Edmonds told BBC News the lesions may have been due to the sheep grazing during recent bad weather.

Rob Simpson, of the NFU, said the farmer involved was also optimistic.

Biosecurity

All animals at the farm were slaughtered during the previous foot-and-mouth outbreak when the disease hit a neighbouring farm, but it was never found there or at the farms from which the two sheep had been bought, he said.

Mr Morley said: "We must take no chances with this very infectious disease."

The scare has meant a return to disinfection precautions in the area

"The department thoroughly investigates all suspect cases, precautionary measures are put in place and we stand ready to take immediate action if the tests show positive."

He said the case underlined the need for farmers and vets to remain vigilant and maintain high biosecurity standards during restocking and the lambing season.

Defra officials were still turning vehicles away from Mount Pleasant Farm on Wednesday morning.

Neighbouring farmer Ian Woodhead, who has just begun restocking after his own livestock were culled last summer, said news of the initial test result was "just what we wanted to hear".

He added: "I realise there's another 96 hours until it's finally confirmed, but if they've come out with this initial negative result as quickly as this it's very encouraging indeed."