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APPENDIX C: TEMPLATE NEWS RELEASES

Suspect case (amber alert)

<DISEASE> PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE IN <GEOGRPAHICAL AREA>

A Temporary Control Zone has been put in place following a report of a suspected case of <DISEASE> in a <ANIMAL> on a farm in <GEOGRAPHICAL AREA>. Precautionary movement restrictions apply to all farms within a 10 km radius from the potentially infected farm.

This is standard procedure for suspect cases of <DISEASE>, pending the outcome of laboratory tests on samples.

Samples from the <ANIMAL> have been sent to the international reference laboratory at the Institute of Animal Health in Pirbright, Surrey. Initial results are expected on <DATE>.

Precautionary restrictions have also been placed on farms in <GEOGRAPHICAL AREA> which have had contact with the suspect animal.

The countryside remains open for business.

On confirmation (red alert)

<DISEASE> CONFIRMED IN <GEOGRAPHICAL AREA>

A case of <DISEASE> has been confirmed on a farm in <LOCATION>.

In line with emergency response plans an immediate national movement ban has been put in place on all susceptible livestock across Great Britain in order to prevent further spread of the disease [ FMD ONLY]. A 3 km Protection Zone and a 10 km Surveillance Zone have been set up around the Infected Premises.

The Animal Health agency is investigating the source of the outbreak. The Scottish Government has activated its emergency response plan which includes immediate measures to ban all movements of susceptible animals and to ban all markets, fairs, shows or other gatherings of susceptible animals and sales until further notice.

In line with EU legislation, an export-ban has been introduced. This affects all live susceptible livestock, and red meat, meat products and some dairy products. The import of susceptible animals is also banned.

Restrictions on public access have been put in place in the Protection and Surveillance Zone. However, the countryside across the rest of Great Britain will remain open and public access will be maintained.

Further information can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/footandmouth.

as an example)FMDNotes to editors (using

1. Foot and Mouth Disease ( FMD) is a notifiable disease caused by a highly infectious virus and can be contracted by cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer. Any wild, cloven -footed animal can also contract it as well as rats, elephants, camelids and hedgehogs. The risk to human health is negligible.

2. FMD can be spread by:

• persons (e.g. hands, hair, boots), clothing, sheepdogs, scavenging animals, vermin, and use/sharing of machinery;
• direct contact with an infected animal;
• airborne spread from an infected animal;
• indirectly by infected material carried on vehicles' tyres (i.e pick-ups, quad bikes, tractors, combines, trailers, any delivery vehicles, milk tankers, feed and fertiliser lorries) and wheel arches and on machinery.

3. All livestock farmers are encouraged to remain vigilant for any signs of the disease. Quickly recognising clinical signs of FMD in livestock is vital to controlling the disease and preventing it from spreading. In cattle and pigs the signs of disease are usually readily seen; however, sheep do not always show obvious clinical signs of FMD and farmers are encouraged to be wary.

Clinical signs as shown in sheep:

• blisters in the dental pad (upper gum);
• blisters around the mouth are rare, but be aware.
• lameness and the feet may be hot to the touch;
• loss of appetite;
• sudden death in young lambs;
• whitening and blisters on the coronary band (top of hoof). These may be small and covered with hair. If the blisters have burst, hair may be damp and bacterial infection may be present;
• abortions;

Clinical signs in cattle:

• temperature increase of 2-3° C;
• loss of appetite;
• reduced milk yield;
• lameness with the presence of painful lesions on the feet, making the animal uncomfortable and causing it to shift its weight. Feet feel hot to the touch. Cattle may flick feet as if a stone is lodged;
• drooling saliva and chomping of jaws;
• nasal discharge;
• lesions and areas of whitening in the mouth which can develop into fluid-filled blisters on the tongue;
• the presence of blisters on the teats.

Clinical signs in pigs:

• temperature increase of 2-3° C;
• loss of appetite;
• huddling together;
• lameness, feet feel hot to the touch & unwillingness to stand;
• hunching their backs if made to move;
• development of white lesions and blisters on the coronary band (top of hoof) and snout.

If a farmer suspects that their animal(s) has FMD, isolate it/them and stop all livestock movement. They must contact their local Animal Health office immediately at:

4. The risk of disease being spread by people accessing the countryside are generally very small, and can be eliminated by avoiding direct contact between people and/or vehicles (including bicycles) and land where livestock are kept or have been kept in the last 28 days. People visiting areas of the countryside outside an Infected Area should routinely follow the bio-security advice below:

• start your walk or ride, etc. with clean equipment, footwear and clothing;
• park your car away from livestock;
• use disinfectant baths where provided;
• observe official notices;
• avoid farm steadings and yards;
• do not approach, touch, feed or handle livestock;
• leave gates as you find them;
• keep dogs on a lead at all times - dogs run the risk of disturbing and dispersing other animals and wildlife and can be attracted by dung;
• do not leave waste or scraps of food or litter; and
• clean and, if possibly, disinfect your vehicle between visits to the countryside. Pay particular attention to areas which are hard to clean/not immediately visible, for example, wheel arches. Thoroughly clean and then, if possible, disinfect all footwear, clothing, bicycles, etc., after each use.

5. Heightened bio-security measures have been introduced in the Protection and Surveillance Zones 10 km around the infected premises. This is intended to minimise the risk of disease spread and includes the following conditions:

• all vehicles entering and leaving livestock farms and other such premises should be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected:
• livestock farmers must maintain disinfectant footbaths at every entry to, and exit from, their premises;
• special licensing provisions and extra conditions for all lorries making any deliveries to and collections from farms and other livestock premises;
• special measures for tankers collecting milk from farms including the need for the vehicles to be accompanied by an official;
• a system of specific licences for moving forage onto and off farms and also for the spreading of slurry; licences can be obtained from the Scottish Government's website.

6. The national movement ban reflects the significant impact FMD can have on the livestock sector and the wider rural economy. This will be kept under constant review to minimise disruption to the industry.

7. Further restrictions also apply to:

• itinerant breeding services;
• control of products from slaughterhouses and knackers yards (human consumption; by-products);
• detention of stray susceptible animals;
• control of dogs, other four-footed animals and poultry;
• cleansing and disinfection (C & D) requirements at markets, collection centres, etc.

8. Attached is a map showing the Infected Area.

9. Information on public access restrictions in force within the Protection and Surveillance Zone can be obtained from ………………………….

10. The previous cases of FMD occurred in a series of outbreaks in Surrey and surrounding countries during 2007 with eight confirmed cases. A wider spread outbreak took place in 2001 with over 2000 confirmed cases of FMD in England, Wales and Scotland.

11. For further information and the latest update on the current situation see:

www.scotland.gov.uk/footandmouth

The Scottish Government Foot and Mouth helpline number is 08451 553366.

12. All measures are in accordance with the EU Directive 85/2003 adopted in September 2003. The domestic legislation implementing this is the Foot and Mouth Regulations (Scotland) 2005. Any breaches of the order may result in penalty of a maximum of £ 5,000 or imprisoning of a maximum of 6 months.

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