August 8, 2007

 

Switzerland bans British meat and live animals

 

 

Switzerland has barred imports of all British beef, pork, lamb and live animals after outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in UK, Swiss authorities said Tuesday (August 6).

 

Swiss veterinary and laboratory scientists are on the verge of finding the source of the outbreaks in southern England following a request from British authorities, the Federal Veterinary Office said.

 

The Swiss ban includes British travellers in carrying any food containing meat from banned animals into the country.

 

After retracing all animal trade between Britain and Switzerland in recent weeks, Swiss authorities found 11 British sheep that had been imported for use in experiments at the end of July.

 

The sheep all tested negative for foot and mouth disease, the veterinary office said.

 

The neighbouring European Union and countries in Asia have also banned British cattle, sheep and pigs since an outbreak of the animal disease was first uncovered last Friday at a farm in southern England.

 

British authorities revealed Sunday that the virus strain discovered in the outbreak is similar to one used at the Pirbright research centre, which is shared by the government Institute for Animal Health and the private vaccine maker Merial Animal Health.

The discovery has prompted fears that the virus might have escaped from Pirbright, which is near the first farm that was infected, despite strict security procedures.

 

Two Swiss government veterinary scientists arrived in London on Tuesday to help the investigation into the cause of the foot and mouth outbreak, after being invited as independent experts, Maret said.

 

They include the head of the Federal Veterinary Office's main virology institute, Christian Griot, and his senior expert on laboratory security, Kathrin Summermatter.

 

The Swiss experts are expected to stay in Britain until the end of the week.

 

Foot and mouth disease does not pose a risk to humans, but can quickly spread through the air to infect and decimate livestock, causing substantial damage for farming.