320/01
PRECAUTIONARY SLAUGHTER OF NORTHUMBERLAND SHEEP
A flock of 2,100 sheep in North Northumberland is to be slaughtered as a precautionary measure against foot and mouth disease.
Routine testing of the flock has revealed evidence of possible exposure to the disease in the past.
Keith Raine, director of the Newcastle Disease Emergency Control Centre, said:
"This is emphatically not a new outbreak of FMD. There is no evidence of active disease at present. The farm is being treated as a dangerous contact, not an infected premise.
"What we have found is evidence of exposure to the disease at some time in the past, so we are slaughtering the flock as a precaution. Slaughtering will take place later today or tomorrow.
"We have no evidence of FMD elsewhere in the vicinity but we will be carrying out further tests.
"Because this is not a new case it does not mean that the 90-day countdown to a declaration of FMD-free status for Northumberland has to start again. We still hope to declare Northumberland FMD free in the near future, though there will inevitably be some delay resulting from today''s news."
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