Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Tuesday, 3 July 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 July 2001. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 19 July 2001 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the risk of infection of foot and mouth via the wild animal population, with particular reference to deer, hedgehogs and rats.

Answer: David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the risk of infection of foot and mouth via the wild animal population, with particular reference to deer, hedgehogs and rats. [2556] Mr. Morley: Our current veterinary risk assessment concludes that infected deer could transmit foot and mouth disease to susceptible livestock during the clinical stages of the disease. However the risk of wild deer playing any significant part in the spread of the disease is assessed as very low and feral deer are unlikely to represent a longer term risk. During the current outbreak over 60 deer have been examined for foot and mouth disease with negative results, and we have no evidence of deer playing any part in the spread of disease. Hedgehogs are susceptible to foot and mouth disease but do not appear to have played any part in the spread of the disease. Rats are not susceptible to foot and mouth disease but may have a role in spreading the disease indirectly. For this reason an intensive programme of rodent control is carried out on infected premises.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2556; 372 c390W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Deer Disease control Foot and mouth disease Pest control Wildlife Rodents Hedgehogs
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk