The warning came from Chief Vet Jim Scudamore who was given a slow hand clap by angry protesters when he arrived for a meeting with farming leaders in Carlisle on Monday. There are clear messages from farmers and vets. There are clear messages from farmers and vets.
Communication needs to be improved.
But it remains the ministry's view that the removal of animals from within the 3km limit is necessary. This is all based on hysteria, Tony Blair wants an election and he wants to be seen to be doing something. The strategy is to keep those areas which are clear of infection clear - places like East Anglia, west Wales and Scotland, north of the Firth of Forth. But in a bid to appease some farmers, Mr Scudamore disclosed he was considering pleas to exclude some of the county's pedigree flocks from the slaughter. Cumbria is the worst affected county with 86 confirmed outbreaks while neighbouring Dumfries and Galloway has 49 cases.