Further scaling back of FMD precautions

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has removed the restrictions placed on the use of rural footpaths. From 8.00am this morning (Friday) public access has been restored to footpaths and areas of ramblage leaving only certain reservoirs restricted. However, it is hoped that even these will be lifted by tomorrow morning.

The necessity to disinfect vehicles and footwear before entering farms etc has also been lifted, but the Department are still requesting people to wear clean protective clothes and footwear when entering farms in the future and to abide by any requested precautions.

The Department have thanked the public, and everybody else involved, for their forbearance during this period of heightened risk and hopes it serves to remind people how fragile the Manx Countryside and its farming community are to external influences.

Meanwhile, in the UK, it is 15 days since the preliminary cleansing and disinfection of the protection zones. A new Order has been issued by the Secretary of State merging the Surveillance and protection zones around the sites of the two outbreaks and the suspected location of the outbreak. Earlier in the week restrictions on animal movements were lifted and exports to the EU have resumed.

Certain controls are being maintained within the merged zone but it is hoped that the outbreak has now been fully contained and that some normality will return shortly to the industry.