“That is why restrictions have immediately been brought in on animal products from Germany to prevent an outbreak and we will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads. We will continue to keep the situation under review working closely with the German authorities.”
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals, with symptoms including sores and blisters on the feet, mouth and tongue.
The U.K.’s agricultural industry was devastated by an outbreak of the disease in 2001, with over 2,000 farms affected and more than 6 million animals slaughtered.
There are currently no reported cases of the disease in the U.K.
