British Livestock Is Slaughtered to Stem Disease

Workers began slaughtering thousands of British pigs, sheep and cattle Saturday, as the government said its measures to contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease appeared to be paying off.

The animals were being killed on six farms where the disease had been confirmed and at two others that had contact with the infected sites, chief veterinary officer Jim Scudamore said.

The carcasses were to be burned to keep the risk of transmission to a minimum.

Officials said it was a positive sign that no new cases of the highly infectious disease had been confirmed since Friday.

“We know that events can develop very quickly, and that this is the crucial time,” Agriculture Minister Nick Brown said.

“Because of the incubation period of this type of foot-and-mouth disease, we would expect to be receiving further reports from farmers now if it had spread, and so far there are no other reports,” he said.

Foot-and-mouth disease affects cloven-footed animals, including sheep, goats and cows. Causing blisters on the mouth and feet, fever and loss of appetite, it is not usually fatal but is highly infectious, capable of being carried on the wind.

Although the virus does not normally endanger human beings, its outbreak is sure to fuel the country’s food fears stemming from a decade-long battle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, commonly known as “mad cow” disease.

Britain suspended all exports of live animals, meat and dairy products Wednesday. The United States, Russia and the European Union also have imposed import restrictions.

On Friday, British agriculture authorities slapped a seven-day ban on livestock movements, closed cattle markets and barred hunting for a week in a bid to halt the spread of the disease.