DATE=03/23/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BRITAIN / HOOF AND MOUTH (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-274072

BYLINE=TOM RIVERS

DATELINE=LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A new British government report warns that the country is heading toward a "very large epidemic" of hoof and mouth disease. Tom Rivers in London says officials are projecting four-thousand cases by June - nearly 10 times the number already confirmed.

TEXT: The report - compiled for the ministry of agriculture - says further drastic action is required in the coming weeks, otherwise hoof and mouth disease will become established in Britain.

Some British farm leaders have criticized the government of failing to realize the significance of the disease, and doing too little, too late.

Leading British epidemiologist Gareth Davies says given the scale of the growing crisis, the time has come to consider the option of vaccinating animals at risk.

/// DAVIES ACT ///

We have got to start somewhere. I suggest that we start in Cumbria and see how we go. It is not an immediate solution because it takes at least a week to two weeks before the animals become immune. But it does mean that you are building up an immune stock and dampening down the virus spread in that very heavily infected area.

/// END ACT ///

Many are opposed to widespread vaccination because it would mean countries would lose their hoof and mouth free status on international markets. Many countries refuse to buy meat and meat products from suppliers without the status.

/// REST OPT ///

Meanwhile, European Union officials are looking at a variety of ways to contain the spread of the disease. David Byrne is the E-U food safety commissioner. He favors tagging every animal in Europe.

/// BYRNE ACT ///

It is one of the lessons that I think we have all learned from this, that clear identification of animals that can transmit this kind of disease is absolutely essential. And one of the ways of dealing with that most effectively is of course, by tagging the animals.

/// END ACT ///

At a European Union economic summit in Stockholm, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is pressing for more veterinarians from the continent to join the fight against hoof-and-mouth in Britain.

Mr. Blair has said his government will do whatever it takes to eliminate the disease, which analysts say will cost the country 13 billion dollars this year.

All concerned agree that with nearly 500 cases now confirmed in Britain, the sooner more robust action is taken, the better. (Signed)

NEB/TR/GE/KBK