17 October 2000

Overseas Vets to Combat Swine Fever

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) have reported that they are bringing in more help to expend its 150 strong team at their Emergency Control Centre in Bury dealing with the outbreak of classical swine fever. In response to requests from the Chief Veterinary Officer, the Netherlands will be supplying up to 5 experienced vets each week starting on Monday 16 October, and up to 8 experienced vets and technicians from the USA are expected to arrive before the end of the month. Vets from Northern Ireland and Eire have already been over to assist, and it is hoped that more will be arriving soon. MAFF is also diverting staff from the VLA and is recruiting temporary veterinary and technical support staff in East Anglia. Baroness Hayman Minister of State at MAFF welcomed the news of international assistance but cautioned against over optimism. "I have been to the area to meet farmers on three previous occasions since the beginning of the outbreak. I have never been in any doubt about how serious the current situation is for the large number of pig farmers still under movement restrictions in East Anglia. I have today seen for myself the kind of problems that exist on those farms which have been under restriction for many weeks.