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| On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 12:12:56 +0100, "Pat Gardiner"
<patgardiner@btinternet.com> wrote:
>
>"Pat Gardiner" <patgardiner@btinternet.com> wrote in message
>news:LpidnS1uBtkAD4_YRVnyjA@bt.com...
>http://www.24dash.com/content/news/...=2&newsID=10788
>
>Council investigates suspected cattle botulism outbreak
>
>
>Publisher: Ian Morgan
>Published: 22/09/2006 - 09:40:06 AM
>
>A criminal investigation has been launched into a case of suspected botulism
>in cattle on the east Devon and Somerset border, it has emerged.
>
>Devon County Council trading standards service said there was a possible
>association with the use of animal by-products.
>
>"The case is, at this stage, a criminal investigation under the animal
>by-products legislation, so we are unable to give further details for risk
>of prejudicing the inquiry," said a council spokesman.
>
>"There are strict controls covering the disposal of animal by-products and
>our role is to investigate the circumstances concerning any alleged
>non-compliance.
>
>"We work with other agencies such as Defra and the State Veterinary Service
>and all have discrete roles to play in the management and control of animal
>diseases," added the spokesman.
>
>Earlier, a spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
>Affairs (Defra) said a voluntary restriction on the movement of livestock
>was operating on four farms in the Hemyock and Dunkeswell area, on the east
>Devon and Somerset border.
>
>It is believed that about 40 cattle have died so far, an NFU spokesman said.
>The Defra website said botulism is found in bacteria common in the gut of
>poultry and wild birds, and in litter in poultry houses.
>
>Its spread in cattle has been associated with grazing land on which poultry
>litter has been scattered, according to the Defra site.
>
>The Food Standards Agency said it is aware of "several incidents involving
>suspected botulism in cattle in Devon. There have been no reports that meat
>or milk from cattle affected by botulism can cause human disease but, as a
>precautionary measure, meat and milk from the farms where outbreaks have
>been reported have been withheld from the food chain."
Close them down!
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