Foot-and-mouth cases 'could hit 4,000'
Britain's farming industry is being warned to brace itself for a very large epidemic as the foot-and-mouth crisis increases its hold on the nation.
An official government report estimates that more than 4,000 cases could be recorded by June.
The reports also says that the disease will grow fast in the next few weeks and continue for many months.
It said the number of cases will rise steeply with rapid expansion in the existing (infected) areas despite current controls.
The report, compiled for the Ministry of Agriculture by disease specialists, also estimates that cases could rise to the level of 70 a day over the next two weeks with more than 4,000 cases being recorded by June.
The authors said there is still a need for further drastic action to bring the epidemic under control. Otherwise, they warn, foot-and-mouth disease will become established in Britain.
The report said the speedier slaughter of infected animals will help reduce the spread of the virus but that culling also needs to include the immediate slaughter of all susceptible species around infected farms otherwise the final number of infected cases will be very high".
Experts from the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, who helped compile the report, also said the UK's last major epidemic, in 1967 was "quite different".
