Dioxin fears put out flames from foot-and-mouth pyres

LONDON - Britain's efforts to combat the foot-and-mouth epidemic ran into fresh problems yesterday when the incineration of slaughtered animals was halted because of fears of health risks from the smoke.

The two-month-old battle against the highly infectious and financially crippling livestock disease has also been hit by a dispute between Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour Government and farmers' leaders over vaccination.

Britain has placed great store in fighting the disease, which has also spread to the Netherlands, France and Ireland, by slaughtering infected or suspect animals and then disposing of the carcasses on blazing pyres.

Health officials in Cumbria, in the northwest, one of the areas worst affected, has stopped incineration amid fears that the billowing clouds of smoke may pose a health risk to humans.

The officials are investigating whether there is a health risk from dioxins in the smoke.

Dioxins have been linked to cancer and other health problems.

Nineteen new infected sites have been found, taking the total to 1385. The Netherlands has 25 cases, France two and Ireland one.

The European Union's Food Safety Commissioner, David Byrne, said this week signs were emerging that Europe was successfully containing the disease.





Byrne reiterated the EU's rejection of widespread vaccination in favour of allowing member states to apply for limited vaccinations.

The EU plans to review its policy after the disease has been eradicated, but Byrne said even then he would not support a change unless new vaccines had been developed.

Vaccinating animals is not only costly but can hit meat imports since vaccinated animals cannot be distinguished from those incubating the disease.

In Britain, farmers' leaders and the Government remained divided over whether to vaccinate cattle to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth.

Blair favours a limited vaccination programme but insists he wants backing from farmers before taking any action.

National Farmers' Union leader Ben Gill said he was under huge pressure from the Government but refused to be "bounced" into it. Talks on the issue resume today.

- REUTERS

Herald Online feature: Foot-and-mouth disaster

World organisation for animal health

UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

The European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Pig Health/Foot and Mouth feature

Virus databases online