Despite vigorous preventive measures by the French government, the second case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was confirmed in France on 23 March, 10 days after the first. The case was found at a farm in Mitry-Mory, east of Paris. The new case ended hopes that the EU ban on the export of French meat and livestock would be lifted on 27 March. Meat, milk and other products that have not undergone heat treatment to de-activate the virus were immediately barred from export after the Mitry-Mory discovery. Since the disease started there has been a ban in France on export of all animals at risk, and on the movement, except to abattoirs, of cattle, sheep and pigs. There is also a ban on imports from the UK, Ireland, Belgium. Twenty one further cases were confirmed in the UK last night bringing the total for yesterday to 42. This brings the total confirmed cases in Great Britain to 648.
