Full Apha enquiry after mistaken FMD at Exeter mart

A full enquiry has been launched by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha) on how twin lamb disease was mistaken for a case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in a small flock of sheep that were sold at Exeter Livestock Centre on Friday 28 February.

The sheep showed signs of twin lamb disease on the Saturday morning (1 March). The vet attending sought a second opinion and had mistaken it for possible FMD, which sparked a full foot-and-mouth disease response plan by Apha.

See also: Concerns raised over Defra’s response to FMD threat

Apha and Trading Standards were at the mart policing the gates and turning people away as the investigation was under way on Monday 3 March, cancelling all trading at the mart.

Precautionary movement restrictions were put in place around Exeter Livestock Centre and two farms in Devon and Worcestershire while further investigations continued.

“Having seen the sheep on Friday, I couldn’t believe what I was being told on Sunday evening. I’ve not seen FMD and bluetongue, but I didn’t expect these sheep having either,” said Kivells director Russell Steer.

Both FMD and bluetongue were tested for with a blood test and a culture grown lesion test and returned a negative result from Apha on Monday afternoon.

UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: “We urge farmers to remain vigilant to signs of this disease and notify your private vet or the Animal and Plant Health Agency straight away if you are concerned.”

Kivells is now awaiting the result of the enquiry and full explanation from Apha as to how the events unfolded.

Responding to comments that more information should have been made available on social media, Mr Steer said: “We didn’t want to spark a panic across the country. That would have been massively irresponsible of us. Others seem happy to do that and then backtrack. Let’s wait until we have the full facts.”

The market has received the green light by Apha to continue with business as usual.