Fears are mounting over a second wave of foot and mouth outbreaks as 20 new cases of the disease have been confirmed in North Yorkshire and Lancashire.

MAFF officials and vets are moving quickly to try and contain the disease in Settle and Clitheroe, fearing it could spark a repeat of the situation in Cumbria. Animal movement restrictions have been imposed on almost 1,000 farms around the two areas.

Meanwhile, over 45,000 animals on infected premises have been culled, a figure that is likely to rise dramatically under MAFF’s policy to cull animals on neighbouring farms whether the disease has been detected or not.
Only if the highest standards of biosecurity can be demonstrated will consideration be given to exempting cattle. But chief veterinary officer Jim Scudamore warned that with farmers having lots of parcels of land over a wide area, there could be as many as 16 neighbouring farms to each infected one.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) is investigating the source of the outbreaks, although a spokesman said it is more than likely due to the movement of people and animals in the area.

Nationally, the number of reported cases of the disease have fallen, but the cluster of new outbreaks is a warning to farmers that they must remain cautious. Vice president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Michael Paske said: “We are only too aware that there are going to be many more cases before we are finally clear.”
The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 1,634, with 43 reported in North Yorkshire and 17 in Lancashire.