March 7, 2001
		Foot and Mouth Disease Spreads to French Sheep Traces of the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease that originated in England has been detected in sheep on nine French sheep farms in five regions. Tests on the sheep revealed that the animals had produced antibodies after contact with the disease. After foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed nearly two weeks ago, it has been discovered at about three dozen sheep, pig and cattle farms in the British Isles. The total of confirmed cases has risen to 71, and more than 400 farms remain under restrictions. British officials have ordered the destruction of about 45,000 animals. Large sections of the English countryside have been blocked off to visitors, including footpaths, forests and national parks. Hunting, fishing and many sports events have also been canceled. Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern announced the cancellation of Dublin's St. Patrick's Day parade because of cases of foot-and-mouth found in Northern Ireland and the fear that visitors may carry the virus on their clothing and car tires. The French government has ended meat exports and ordered the slaughter of approximately 50,000 animals that were imported from Britain or had come in contact with those that did. Giant piles of carcasses are being incinerated. In addition, French officials set up roadblocks around the affected farms in Mayenne, Oise, Vienne, Cher and Seine-St. Denis. At a March 5 news conference, French Agriculture Minister Jean Glavany announced the export suspension and a 15-day ban on the movement of cows, sheep, pigs, goats and horses, unless they are being taken to the slaughterhouse. Health officials in France also announced that horse racing would be temporarily suspended. "The situation is very worrisome," said Mr. Glavany. "It is very worrisome in Britain, and it is very worrisome here. We are watching it hour by hour." Also on March 5, German officials announced that they had sealed off a pig farm in Brandenburg after detecting possible symptoms in one of the animals. Foot-and-mouth disease has provoked Bulgaria and Japan to impose some import bans. Each week the disease is still active, the British National Farmers' Union says, farms and farm-related industries could lose some $86 million. Marshall Taylor, a British dairy farmer said, "What we're all feeling is an awful, nagging dread. This disease is all around us. It is inevitably creeping nearer and nearer, and I think we're fairly close to it running out of control." Jim Scudamore, Britain's chief veterinary officer, said that even if the disease is contained soon, it may be months before things return to normal.