Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Tuesday, 3 July 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 13 July 2001. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Friday, 13 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, how many premises that were confirmed as being infected with foot and mouth have subsequently received negative results from blood tests. - Inc figures.

Answer: David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many premises that were confirmed as being infected with foot and mouth have subsequently received negative results from blood tests. [2568] Mr. Morley: As at 8 July, 382 infected premises in Great Britain gave a negative result when tested for foot and mouth disease in the laboratory. A negative test result does not necessarily mean that the premises was free from the disease. For instance, if the disease is old the virus may not be present in the sample collected, and blood tests from newly infected animals may not give a positive reaction to the laboratory test as antibodies may not yet be present.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2568; 371 c687W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Blood Farms Disease control Foot and mouth disease Livestock Testing
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk