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LONDON
(Reuters) - The first case of swine fever in Britain since
August 12 was found near an infected area, the Ministry
of Agriculture said on Monday, dashing farmers" hopes
on a quick lifting of restrictions and culls. About 1,000
pigs will be slaughtered after the disease was discovered
on a farm in Norfolk in eastern England. As a result,
many nearby farms may remain under watch for longer than
was previously thought, the ministry said in a statement.
Swine
fever is not dangerous to humans but can decimate a pig
population.
The
Agriculture Ministry said the new case may be linked to
previous discoveries in the region. Some 12,000 pigs have
been slaughtered to date.
The
National Pig Association said farmers in the area were
"dismayed" at Monday"s news as they "were
beginning to hope for the lifting of the zones later this
month." "The prospect of this situation continuing
for several weeks is daunting," it said in a statement,
criticising the government for "gravely underestimating
the seriousness of the situation" with a compensation
plan of 35 pounds ($51) per pig.
Last
week, Agriculture Minister Nick Brown said he was seeking
approval for emergency payments to farmers who have had
to destroy pigs hit by swine fever. The European Union
slapped a ban on English pig exports after an outbreak
but scaled it down in late August to apply only to the
region surrounding infected farms.
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