Ministers blamed for disease spread

The Government's handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis in Devon was "lamentable" and "insensitive," a report says today.

The first independent inquiry into the outbreak criticises almost every aspect of the Government's approach and says responsibility for the spread of the disease lies with ministers.

Devon county council accuses the Government and its agencies of "insensitive treatment" of individuals and communities, with one witness describing the slaughter of livestock as "carnage by computer" because of the number of healthy animals killed. The report criticises "insensitive and even belligerent operatives and bungled culls" which did little to "enhance the professional reputation of those involved, from ministers downwards".

The contiguous cull policy "appeared to have been implemented by officials poring over maps in remote offices".

The report is the result of a five-day hearing chaired by Professor Ian Mercer who says the handling " of the ensuing crisis was lamentable".

The spread of the disease is described as inevitable after the decision to delay implementation of a ban on transporting livestock, which meant hundredsof thousands of sheep were moved, spreading the disease across the country.

Lessons which should have been learned from the 1967 outbreak did not appear to have been implemented.

The report says that an immediate ban on animal movements should be implemented on the first day of any future outbreak. It also recommends strict import controls on meat and livestock products to prevent new infections. The "barbaric"-burning of livestock in the open should never be allowed to happen again.

The report highlights the need for a national contingency plan and research into the possible use of vaccination to help contain any future epidemic.

The report says the expertise of local vets should have been more widely drawn upon and describes the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's last-minute attempts to train vaccinators in Devon as "ridiculous and dangerous".

The preliminary Devon report was rushed through so that it can be submitted to the Government's three inquiries into the outbreak.

Professor Mercer told Radio 4's Today programme this morning: "The evidence from those who have been involved in the outbreak - suffering from it - was all consistent with the fact that the handling was not brilliant."

Rural affairs minister Alun Michael said: "I think it is important that we learn the lessons from 2001... the biggest in terms of handling and logistics you have seen in the world."