Foot and Mouth Disease
28 March 2001	Highlands and North of Scotland remain clear, but infection spreads to Lake District
FMD has moved south from heavily infected north Cumbria to the Lake District, with no clear transmission path. The Lake District fells support large numbers of unenclosed sheep; unless immediately controlled, the consequences for local farmers and the tourist industry are likely to be devastating.
In the Highlands, restrictions have been eased in many areas, but National Trust for Scotland paths in Plockton and Lochalsh are still closed, causing local concern. A review of the situation will be made by NTS on 1 April.
Logistical problems continue to hinder efforts to control the spread of the disease. A maximum period of 24 hours between confirmation of disease and slaughter of infected livestock and all livestock within a three kilometre zone, is now seen as crucial. This is not being achieved to date in Cumbria, the worst hit area. Problems cited include shortage of vets, and the sheer numbers involved.
Vaccination has returned to the agenda, despite being dismissed in the early days. Under consideration are proposals to selectively vaccinate around infected flocks, then slaughter later. Problems include: the time to protection, up to two weeks, efficiency, not 100%, and the manpower and time required, which may be more usefully spent elsewhere. (Export status has been lost already, of course.) On the other hand, vaccination has been successfully used to eradicate previous outbreaks in Europe (of a smaller size) and may be the extra policy that can turn the tide.
As the government struggles with the crisis, criticism grows of its preoccupation with a general election (which, pre-FMD, would likely have returned a large Labour majority) when all efforts should be focused. The timing of the general election is under the government's control and has not been officially announced, but was widely known to be set for 3 May. Local elections, on the other hand, must be held on 3 May, or postponed by Act of Parliament. The government contends that postponement of one, or both, will send the wrong signal internationally — that the UK is not open for business as usual, that the disease is out of control.
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