Jabs will stop foot & mouth

VACCINATION will be used alongside a slaughter policy in any attempt to control a future outbreak of foot and mouth.

Environment Minister Elliot Morley said yesterday that changes in world trade rules, which had prevented the export of meat and livestock for a year after a vaccine is used, meant jabs were now a viable option.

In a radio interview he said: "I don't doubt that vaccination will have a stronger role as part of a contingency plan although it is probably likely to be used alongside the stamping-out policy.

"It will have a greater use in the future, as technology improves and as we get some of the trade rules, which prevent the use of vaccination, changed."

Mr Morley was speaking after reports that the use of vaccines would be recommended by reporters from Government inquiries set up to examine the way the outbreak was dealt with.

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