Tension over FMD lessens
18/08/2007
Farmers in the UK are not alone in feeling relief that, so far, the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease that the authorities confirmed in Surrey at the start of August has been contained.
On hearing the news, outdoor industry representatives were afraid that walkers, trekkers, cyclists, climbers and other participants in outdoor activities might, once again, lose access to the countryside.
There is anecdotal evidence of farmers closing off some roads and paths, even substantial distances away from the part of England where the outbreak occurred, but the situation is returning to normal and the chances of confrontations between farmers and outdoor enthusiasts are diminishing.
The general secretary of the European Outdoor Group, Mark Held, has told sportstextiles.com that data from the last outbreak of FMD in the UK in 2001, showed clearly that the cost to the country in losing tourism and trade from outdoor enthusiasts was greater than that incurred in farming.
He also said that measures such as refusing walkers access to country paths did not work; the disease spread anyway.
He said the industry would take steps to encourage the government to take these lessons on board before introducing any “knee-jerk, ‘close the countryside down’ actions”.
“The Government should give serious consideration to the ‘vaccinate inwards, cull outwards’ approach that has been successful in other countries,” he added.
