Denmark reports suspected case of foot-and-mouth

A suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease has been reported in Denmark, the country's food agency announced today.

The cows were displaying non-specific symptoms but we cannot rule out the cause being foot-and-mouth," Danish food agency

The suspect farm is near Egtved in the western Vejle region and concerns three cows in a herd of 150.

"The cows were displaying non-specific symptoms but we cannot rule out the cause being foot-and-mouth," the agency said in a statement.

Results of laboratory analysis on tissue samples is expected late tomorrow.

Agriculture Minister Mr Ritt Bjerregaard provisionally banned all live animal exports last Thursday in a bid to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease to Denmark.

This was followed on Friday by the introduction of systematic disinfection of all trucks which had been in direct or indirect contact with cloven-hooved animals in other countries.

"We want to give a signal to the export markets that we are doing everything we can to avoid foot-and-mouth reaching Denmark," said Ms Orla Groen Pedersen, director of the organisation of professional pig farmers.

The country exports around a million piglets annually, mainly to Germany and The Netherlands.

Denmark's last known case of foot-and-mouth was in 1983.

AFP