NZ on alert over foot-and-mouth

NEW ZEALAND - New Zealand has launched emergency procedures and alerted trading partners over a claim that a deadly livestock disease has been released in the country.

The agriculture ministry and police said today the alleged release of the foot-and-mouth virus on an island near Auckland was likely a hoax but being treated as a genuine threat.

Foot-and-mouth does not affect humans but can ravage sheep, cattle and pig populations, and cause enormous damage to a nation's exports and economy.

"While this matter is probably a hoax we must take all necessary steps to safeguard New Zealand's interests and public welfare," ministry biosecurity director Barry O'Neil said.

"As a precautionary measure, we are also taking steps to advise key industry participants in New Zealand and overseas."

Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton said New Zealand had advised key trading partners of the alert but did not expect them to ban its agricultural products.

"I don't believe that that would be justified at all," Sutton told Radio New Zealand.

If the virus claim was true, "the risk to New Zealand would be enormous", Sutton said.

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Source: Daily Telegraph

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