FOOT AND MOUTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23491, 4 May 1938, Page 20

FOOT AND MOUTH

MOVEMENT OF STOCK FORBIDDEN A DRASTIC STANDSTILL (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, Apl. 9. Following further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the Midlands, the Ministry of Agriculture has issued a drastic standstill order prohibiting the movement of stock in the whole of England with the exception of Devon. Cornwall, Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland, and Westmorland. Throughout the remainder of England the movement of cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats is prohibited. This is the most extensive standstill order which has been imposed since the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 1922. Tiie order was made necessary by the fact that infected animals were, it was feared, sold at markets whence they were liable to be widely distributed throughout the country, thus involving the risk of widespread infection.

An official of the Ministry of Agriculture stated: “ This measure by the Minister is intended to be kept on until the Minister can be sure that the disease position is stabilised and any undiscovered centres qf disease have been ascertained.”

It is hoped, however, that if the campaign against the disease proceeds satisfactorily, many parts of the country will be, freed from the standstill order after eight days. Provided the infection does'not spread rapidly, the present restrictions will not cause any shortage of home-grown meat.