Has Foot and Mouth gone?
In the run up to the recent General Election in the United Kingdom, the government did everything possible to keep the outbreak out of the media and off the country’s television screens in order to create the impression that everything was back to normal. Since the election, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has had its name changed to the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the previous minister has been fired. His successor is not known for her understanding of rural or farming interests.
According to official figures, by June 24 there had been 1,783 confirmed cases during the outbreak with just one case being confirmed on June 24. The number of animals slaughtered is said to be 3,416,000, with another 18,000 awaiting slaughter (June 21). There are claims that there has been under-reporting in recent weeks and the ministry itself estimates that about 1,400 extra cases occurred within dangerous contact culls. Most of the animals culled have been sheep, of which Britain has a stock of over 30 million.
The government has admitted that there were some mistakes made at the height of the outbreak but has refused demands from opposition political parties for a full public enquiry. It appears that the outbreak is on the decline as was originally forecast by experts (who said it would end by August) but a decision in late June by the new minister that livestock could be once again moved to abattoirs from areas where there has been infection was severely criticised. The movement order was modified slightly but the farming community is still angry at the government’s lack of understanding and sensitivity to what has been a disaster for livestock holders.
