The story says that 14 of the first 20 cases in the Settle cluster have been linked by the movement of people, vehicles or licensed movement of livestock, according to Maff. The first outbreak was reported on May 10. The spread of the disease has, inadvertently, been exacerbated by the nature of farming practices in the area.
Many farms have parcels of land away from the home premises, including some fell and moorland.
Consequently there have been many movements of people, vehicles and equipment, as well as some 350 licensed animal movements to carry out normal animal husbandry and working practices within the area. All licensed movements have, of course, now stopped within the Settle area.