Tests on pigs for foot-and-mouth in Northern Ireland
NORTHERN IRELAND - Samples taken from pigs at an abattoir in Northern Ireland are being tested for foot-and-mouth disease.
9 January 2007
2 minute read
 Picture: BBC News |
The chief veterinary officer revealed foot lesions were detected on Monday at the facililty in County Antrim.
They have now been sent for testing to the Institute of Animal Health with initial results expected on Tuesday.
More than 50,000 animals were culled in the 2001 outbreak, most of them sheep and £7.5m was paid to Northern Ireland farmers in compensation.
Precautionary measure
Chief Veterinary Officer Bert Houston said movement restrictions and other measures had been imposed both at the abattoir and the site where the pigs had originated.
In a statement, he said: "As part of routine surveillance at an abattoir in County Antrim, foot lesions were detected in a number of pigs presented for slaughter.
Source: BBC News
