§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the results of his investigations into the source of each outbreak of foot and mouth disease in England and Wales. [152019]
§ Ms QuinInitial epidemiological evidence suggests that the outbreak appears to have started in one premises in north-east England and spread from there. The main cause of spread appears to be the movement of sheep for trade purposes. Investigations are continuing into the original source. Information on the initial epidemiological findings will be published.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria he uses to judge when an outbreak of foot and mouth disease is called an epidemic; and if he will make a statement. [151918]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 5 March 2001]: Based on a definition of an epidemic as a large number of cases occurring simultaneously in the livestock population, it is too early to say whether the current outbreak represents an epidemic.
482W
§ Mr. FabricantTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have been taken to identify the cause of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease and its point of origin. [151936]
§ Ms Quin:[holding answer 6 March 2001]: Detailed epidemiological investigations are being undertaken for each of the confirmed outbreaks. Initial findings suggest that the outbreak appears to have started in one premises in north-east England and spread from there. The main cause of spread appears to be the movement of sheep for trade purposes. Investigations are continuing into the original source. Information on the initial epidemiological findings will be published.