Government Considers Foot and Mouth Vaccine

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The Government is considering vaccinating animals against foot-and-mouth disease.

Agriculture Secretary Nick Brown said if the Government decides to use the vaccine, it wants the ability to use it immediately.

He warned that vaccination would have the downside of possibly delaying a return to international trade in meat.

He told the Commons: "Emergency vaccination can control foot-and-mouth disease."

He added: "We would need to consider whether it would be necessary to slaughter vaccinated animals."

He's also proposed a ban on pigswill. He said: "The potential risk of swill feeding... is now greater than the benefits."

Meanwhile there are now 693 confirmed cases in Britain and one in Northern Ireland, making a total of 44 new cases.