AnimalNet Aug. 31/07

UK: Foot-and-mouth reports 'studied'

UK: Caution urged over Foot and Mouth disease compensation claims

VIETNAM: Province declares itself pig disease-free, resumes pork trade

IRELAND: GM-free diets for pigs and poultry 'unrealistic'

HONG KONG: 2 men accused of smuggling 7, 000 turtles

ENGLAND: Animal centre infection contained

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UK: Foot-and-mouth reports 'studied'
31.aug.07
BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6972864.stm
A report into whether a nearby lab was the source of the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Surrey has, according to this story, been submitted to the government.
The results of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation are to be published by the government next week.
A second report into biosecurity at the Pirbright lab, from Imperial College London, is expected later in the day.
A Department of Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesman was cited as saying both would be carefully studied before publication.
An initial report by the HSE found a "strong possibility" Pirbright was the source.
It also said there was a "real possibility" human movement had spread the disease.
The Pirbright lab complex is shared by the Institute for Animal Health (IAH), an international diagnostic laboratory, and the private pharmaceutical company Merial Animal Health.
The interim report isolated neither as the source.
A Defra spokesman was quoted as saying: "Defra has received the report from the Health and Safety Executive into the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Surrey.
"We expect to receive Professor Brian Spratt's report by the end of today.
"Both reports will be carefully considered. We expect to publish them next week alongside a statement of the further actions that Government will be taking in the light of the reports."



 

UK: Caution urged over Foot and Mouth disease compensation claims
30.aug.07
Farming UK
http://www.farminguk.com/index.asp?show=newsArticle&id=4252&country=
Farmers should not, according to this story, rush into claims for compensation following the recent foot-and mouth outbreak, a leading agricultural lawyer has advised.
William Neville of Burges Salmon, the law firm which acted in most of the cases arising out of the 2001 FMD outbreak, was cited as saying that farmers should exercise caution while monitoring the ongoing investigations at Pirbright.
"The latest outbreak brought the British livestock industry to a standstill with many farmers and auctioneers suffering financial losses as a result. It is understandable that those affected will look for compensation," Mr Neville was quoted as saying . "However, it is basic English law that compensation for financial loss cannot be obtained unless there has also been damage to property. Unlike in 2001, only two farms have been subjected to slaughter.
"At this stage, there would appear to be no more than a faint possibility of general claims for financial losses, especially as the factual situation at Pirbright remains unclear and no responsibility, by either Merial or the Institute for Animal Health, has been established."
In the meantime, Burges Salmon is advising farmers to keep comprehensive records of any losses and expenditure as a result of restrictions imposed by the recent outbreak.



 

VIETNAM: Province declares itself pig disease-free, resumes pork trade
31.aug.07
Thanh Nien News
Thanh Nien, VnExpress
http://www.thanhniennews.com/healthy/?catid=8&newsid=31557
Authorities in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam were cited in this story as saying Thursday with no new blue ear disease outbreaks among pigs in the last 21 days, pork transport and trade had resumed.
Nguyen Duc Hai, head of the province administration, was cited as saying since the 21-day period was the criterion for declaring an area disease-free, normal activities had resumed Friday.
However, animal health experts warn that the virus that causes Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), as the disease is known in medical parlance, can exist in infected animals for up to two months.



 

IRELAND: GM-free diets for pigs and poultry 'unrealistic'
31.aug.07
Irish Times
Seán MacConnell, Agriculture Correspondent
A leading tillage expert was cited in this story as warning yesterday that those who say Ireland should feed its pigs and poultry on GM- free feed are embracing an "anti-competitive system which is doomed to failure". Prof Jimmy Burke, who was speaking at a Bioenergy 07 event in Co Carlow, was cited as saying we imported half our protein for the pig and poultry sector from the US, and this was already causing problems for the industry.
He was further cited as saying those who fed their pigs and poultry on GM-free diets were unable to recover the higher costs from the market, and it was, therefore, anti-competitive and had very serious implications for the pig and poultry sector.
Burke was quoted as saying "Ireland's position on that and saying we would only go down a route where we would only source non-GM feed is not a realistic option.
"We need to start sitting up and taking notice because that is a real threat to the sector."
When it was put to him that consumers did not want to eat meat grown on GM-grown crops and would be prepared to pay a premium, Prof Burke was cited as saying that was not the case as those who fed GM-free feed were not getting the returns from the marketplace.



 

HONG KONG: 2 men accused of smuggling 7, 000 turtles
31.aug.07
Associated Press
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Hong-Kong-Turtle-Smuggling.html
HONG KONG (AP) -- Hong Kong police have, according to this story, arrested two men accused of trying to smuggle more than 7,000 live pet turtles to mainland China.
Marine police intercepted the two men Wednesday as they were loading about 300 cartons onto speedboats, a government statement was quoted as saying. The cartons were filled with clear plastic containers containing the tiny dark green turtles, each smaller than a human palm, a photograph published in the Ming Pao Daily News showed.
Most of the animals were snapping turtles, a species found in Canada and South America. Razorback musk turtles, native to the U.S., were also found. None of the smuggled species were endangered, agricultural department spokesman Donald Lam was quoted as saying.
The animals were worth between $21 to $192 each. There is a growing market in mainland China for pet turtles, the Ming Pao paper quoted marine police inspector Lai Chi-hung as saying.



 

ENGLAND: Animal centre infection contained
31.aug.07
Watford Observer
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1657108.0.animal_centre_infection_contained.php
An infection at a Watford animal welfare charity has, according to this story, now been contained, but the centre remains closed to the public this weekend.
The National Animal Welfare Trust, Tyler's Way, Watford, was set to raise thousands of pounds by holding an open day tomorrow (Sunday). However it has since been cancelled after seven dogs at the centre showed symptoms of "Kennel Cough".
The good news is the infection has been eradicated but the centre remains closed as a precautionary measure.
 



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