Foot and Mouth

[carrie]

Four farms in the Borders in Scotland are now under close supervision as a farmer from an infected Northumberland farm visited them last Thursday. Scotland will be clean for three months on Thursday and exports can then resume.

[carrie]

Northumberland has three new cases of FMD today and the Army have now been called in to oversee logistical operations.

[Daisy's Mom]

Carrie I am so sorry. I keep expecting a post saying that it's all suddenly over... but I never see it My thoughts and prayers are with you and everyone affected by this.

[carrie]

6,100 square miles of the North of England now have to face a ban on animal movement. This "red box" is an effort to stop the spread of FMD that has now infected 19 farms in Northumberland.

[Dixieland Dancer]

Dear Carrie,
I hope this does not effect you directly. We have not heard much on our news lately about this so I just assumed the threat was over. Our prayers go out to all those effected. Please continue to keep us posted since the new media won't. This is just a terrible situation!

[carrie]

Thank you all again.

I have just sent an email to you DixielandDancer to tell you how much your concern and interest matters.

There have now been - can't believe it! - 2,004 cases of confirmed Foot and Mouth disease in this country.

That is terrible enough when you actually think of the animals and the people who have suffered. Take into account the farms around those infected that also have to see all their animals die. Farms where the Spring stock that should be sold on now have to keep an excess of animals that they have no means to feed or house through the Winter.

There are so many issues and problems and fears for the future....farming in this country may never recover.

[carrie]

There are two suspected cases of FMD in Leicestershire today. (The last cases in this county were in April.) 37 cattle have been slaughtered after blood was taken for testing and emergency restrictions are in place.
We will all keep our fingers crossed that this is a false alarm.