The Dutch agriculture ministry has said that it is investigating several goats, which may have been infected with foot and mouth disease. It is the first incident connected to the virus in the Netherlands. The ministry said that initial tests at a farm in the East of the country revealed no trace of the disease, but it added that further testing indicated that the farm may have been contaminated.
In another development, a farmers’ leader in Britain today described the government’s decision to call in the army to help dispose of animal carcasses in Devon and Cumbria as "too little, too late". David Hill, the chairman of National Farmers’ Union in Devon, admitted that he was happy that Army logistic teams were helping in the disposal operation. However, he warned that there is not enough labour available. The animals were slaughtered because of foot and mouth disease.
"The Ministry has not taken on board the magnitude of this thing," he added. Referring to Chief Veterinary Officer Jim Scudamore’s guidelines of slaughter within 24 hours of confirmation and disposal of the carrion within another 24 hours, Mr Hill said that that was not what was happening in reality.
However, the South Regional Director of the NFU said that army intervention was better late than never. Anthony Gibson said that it was clear that the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry was unable to cope with the disposal. The Army has said that they expect to be in Devon for weeks rather than months. They have made clear that their role will be supporting MAFF officials rather than working in the removal of carcasses and the building of pyres.
Army spokesman David Harris said that the Army presence would free up MAFF officials to work in infected areas. Already more than 27,000 animals have been culled in Devon. The British Defence Ministry is to deploy 300 troops today to help dispose of the slaughtered livestock. The number of confirmed cases across Britain rose to 394 today.
The government's controversial policy of mass slaughter of healthy animals is to go ahead today in badly affected areas. Jim Scudamore has insisted that all sheep and pigs within three kilometres of any confirmed cases will be slaughtered.
