A highly contagious illness is spreading. "Extreme mobilisation of services"

Czesław Siekierski introduced on Wednesday in the Sejm information of the agricultural department on the preventive action of the Ministry on the prevention of occurrence foot and mouth virus in the territory of the Republic of Poland.

Minister of Agriculture and agrarian improvement assessed that danger scale is high, so we should consider the consequences of the possible occurrence of this illness in our country.

Siekierski said that Poland is approx. 6.3 million bovine animals and above 8,5 million livestock Pig. He recalled that the last case foot and mouth illness Poland took place in 1971.

Pryszczyca in countries neighbouring Poland. Prevention

German veterinary services reported the first case of foot-and-mouth illness in 37 years in early January. The farm where the illness occurred was c. 70 km from the Polish border.

Last week the Polish Veterinary Inspectorate announced that it was confirmed second outbreak of foot-and-mouth illness in Hungary close the interface between Austrian, Czech and Slovak borders. But on Sunday Slovak services reported detection the 5th outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease In this country. Due to foot-and-mouth disease, the Slovak government has introduced an emergency state throughout the country.

The Slovak Government has estimated that the recovery of herds already affected by foot-and-mouth illness may take respective years and absorb €60 million – told Siekierski. He added that it was not known what would happen next and how costs would increase.

Czesław Siekierski: The threat is large

– Foot and mouth illness is a threat to food chains, causing economical losses. It is not my goal to origin excessive anxiety, but the scale of the threat is truly large,' the Minister stressed.

Siekierski said the ministry received information on Wednesday two further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth illness in Hungary. “The illness included a full of nearly 8,000 animals in this country and 6.5 1000 animals in Slovakia”, he pointed out.

As the chief of the department said, due to the threat of foot-and-mouth illness were introduced Strict veterinary checks on the confederate border of the country in voivodships: Podkarpackie, Opole, Silesia and Małopolska. The cooperation of veterinary inspection with border guards, police and fire departments has been strengthened.

– On 10 passes we lead on-calls of veterinary services in a 24-hour system, utilizing an animal movement monitoring system. Disinfective gates and mats were set up – explained Siekierski.

The politician added that the ministry introduced regulations on border seal before the European Commission implements its implementing decisions. This allowed us to start border controls.

Pimple. Czesław Siekierski's appeal to farmers

According to information provided by Siekierski, all animals that previously they went to Poland from Slovakiaare examined and monitored.

– 24 hours a day works laboratory in Zduńska Woladoing more than a 1000 studies a week. In the future, together with the emerging laboratory in Puławy, diagnostic capabilities will increase to 10,000 studies per week," the Minister of Agriculture said.

Head of MRiRW appealed to farmersthat they do not take advantage of the alleged marketplace chance and buy animals and feed at low prices, as this poses a hazard of foot-and-mouth illness being dragged.

Pimple. Policy makers on the activities of the Ministry of Agriculture

Most clubs, though they see a large hazard of this disease, believe Government action is adequate. In the opinion of Piotr Kandyby (KO), the activities of foot-and-mouth illness services were rapid, determined Clear forms of cooperation with uniformed services, action has been taken at the borders, there is control and disinfection.

The virus spreads rapidly, so it is essential to increased border controls, as well as the continuous operation of the crisis staff – said Marcin Skonieczka (Poland 2050-TD). He besides pointed to the introduced ban on imports of products from Slovakia. In his opinion, it is conceivable to make farmers aware of the danger posed by this disease.

The activities of foot-and-mouth illness were appropriate and not only the Ministry of Agriculture, but besides another services," said Mirosław Maliszewski (PSL-TD). In his club's assessment, all essential actions were taken.

The PiS criticizes the government's actions. "Strong negligence"

Critical Action of the Government of foot-and-mouth illness Mr Pis, who announced that he would reject MRIRW's information on the substance by voting.

– Government action – in my opinion, as well as farmers, are insufficient said Robert Telus (PiS). He added that he was amazed that erstwhile the foot-and-mouth exploded beyond our western border, erstwhile farmers and agricultural trade unions called for closure, the ministry explained that there is no request for this due to the fact that the EU does not let it to close. “This is simply a serious negligence,” said the erstwhile Minister of Agriculture.

Witold Tumanovich from the Confederacy he asked if Poland was prepared for the situation erstwhile the illness arrived in our country and what actions the government would then take.

On the another hand, Krzysztof Mulawa (Confederation) pointed out that Services blindly believe in documents, without examining animals. In his opinion, measures should not be spared to defend against foot-and-mouth disease.

Action on foot-and-mouth disease. gathering of the Emergency Staff

Mr Siekierski, answering the questions of his fellow Members, stressed that the ministry was determined in a clear action. foot and mouth disease. He admitted he had already spoken to the finance minister to shift backing to veterinary. He pointed out that the issue of this illness was discussed at 3 meetings of EU agriculture ministers in Brussels.

Tuesday was held three-stage crisis staff meeting coordinating the prevention activities of the Ministry of Agriculture related to the hazard of foot-and-mouth illness virus occurring in the territory of Poland.

The Ministry stressed that Poland is inactive a country where no foot-and-mouth illness virus has been found, and the intensification of the preventive activities of MRiRW is associated with the hazard of transmission of the virus from neighbouring countries where the illness occurs.

Previously, the Polish Minister of Agriculture assessed that the hazard of foot-and-mouth illness is serious. He added that the virus moves easy and in different ways.

Close the borders. Controls of abroad animal transport

21 March Minister for Agriculture signed the regulation and decided to close the territory of Poland on imports of selected goods from Slovakia due to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth illness in that country. The Regulation is to apply until the European Commission adopts the appropriate solutions.

At border crossing points checks on animal transport and products are conducted by the Veterinary Inspectorate together with the police, the National taxation Administration and the Road Transport Inspectorate.

The foot-and-mouth is high a contagious and dangerous viral illness for animals. In the event of an outbreak, all animals on holdings must be slaughtered. The illness besides attacks wild animals. The last time foot-and-mouth illness appeared in Czechoslovakia in 1975, and in Poland, which is recognised as a free country from foot-and-mouth disease, in 1971.