Plan to handle future outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease published.
The Minister for Agriculture Joe Walsh has published a new contingency plan for the handling of any future foot and mouth outbreak. Two years ago, a vast range of restrictions were imposed on people to minimise the danger to livestock.
In Spring 2001, many sporting and social activities came to a halt as authorities battled to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease. Foot disinfection was introduced at many public buildings and controls were introduced at ports and airports.
Football games, horse racing and meetings were cancelled.
Public efforts across the Republic of Ireland helped to restrict the number of cases of Foot and Mouth Disease to just one. Tourism was badly affected. However, there were some long term benefits to farming with an increase in beef and lamb exports.
Minister Joe Walsh has now published a detailed contingency plan and operations manual for coping with future outbreaks. Traceability systems for sheep, pigs and cattle are already in operation.
At the launch of the plan, Joe Walsh defended Minister for Health Micheál Martin's handing of the threat of SARS. Reacting to an outbreak of SARS is very different to that of Foot and Mouth Disease and he says that coping with an invisible enemy is challenging.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 28 April 2003. The reporter is Joe O'Brien.
