Britain officially free of foot-and-mouth disease

Britain is spending its first day officially free of foot-and-mouth 11 months after the disease first crippled the countryside…

Britain is spending its first day officially free of foot-and-mouth 11 months after the disease first crippled the countryside.

The removal of "at risk" status from Northumberland is another step in Britain being declared officially clear of the disease by the international community.

Over six million animals have been slaughtered as a result of 2,030 cases between February and the final case on September 30th last year.

The outbreak turned out to be the world's single biggest foot-and-mouth epidemic and the most serious animal disease epidemic in the UK in modern times.

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Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Lord Whitty said: "For all counties in Britain to have achieved FMD-free status by mid-January is a credit to vets and officials, to farmers and the wider community".

President of the National Farmers' Union Mr Ben Gill said the move would "remove a long, dark shadow from the countryside".

He said: "This is the news that farmers across the UK have been waiting for. We all hope that this is truly the beginning of the end of this appalling chapter".

The farming industry and government will now be keen to get Britain's disease-free status confirmed by other countries although some food exports are already allowed.

PA