Crisis in the UK

Total confirmed cases 716 719,000 animals due for slaughter 441,640 already slaughtered 323,213 carcasses destroyed

The total number of confirmed cases in the UK has risen to 716, with 23 new outbreaks of the disease.

The start of the slaughter came as Prime Minister Tony Blair urged people to return to the countryside in an effort to revive tourist businesses devastated by the agricultural crisis.

New evidence

Mr Blair told the Commons it was difficult to predict how the outbreak would develop because new evidence suggested around 1.3 million sheep had been moved or exported during February when the disease could have been incubating.

Tory Leader William Hague said not enough was being done to tackle the disease, claiming there was a "serious lack of resources on the frontline in certain areas".

Up to half a million sheep will be buried

Britain's Chief Veterinary Officer Jim Scudamore has asked the European Union's standing veterinary committee to approve vaccination of animals around affected UK areas if necessary.

The Netherlands, where the number of confirmed cases has risen by two to seven, has already been given permission to vaccinate in limited circumstances amid fears that the disease could still be spread by dead animals.

The first consignment of live sheep, about 200 animals, arrived at Great Orton on Wednesday morning, before civilian slaughtermen and Army butchers set about humanely killing them.

Click here to see 1967 foot-and-mouth figures compared to 2001 figures.

The aim is to confine the disease within Cumbria and prevent it spreading south into the Lake District, where sheep flocks tend to be loose in the wild.

As well as providing several Army butchers to help with the slaughter, the Army is helping the transportation of live animals to the Great Orton airfield near Carlisle, for slaughter and burial in the mass grave already filled with more than 20,000 carcasses.

General Sir Mike Jackson, Commander-in-Chief of Land Forces, pledged to spare no Army effort in curbing the disease throughout the UK.

The message is clear, go and visit the countryside, but stay off the farmland

Tony Blair

Tony Blair has reiterated the government's commitment to helping a UK tourist industry whose revenue is being threatened by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The rural tourist industry - worth �12bn a year in England alone - is already losing an estimated �100m a week, and faces a nightmare Easter season if visitors continue to stay away.

Tourism plea

Mr Blair told the British Chamber of Commerce annual conference many rural businesses were being hit by the lack of visitors and said: "All of us have got to get over the message that Britain is indeed open for business.

"The message is clear, go and visit the countryside, but stay off the farmland," Mr Blair added.

The Mirror newspaper says Mr Blair has asked ministers to spend bank holiday breaks in Britain rather than jetting abroad.

He is believed to favour 3 May for a general election but is under growing pressure to postpone that date until the crisis is under control.

The Office for National Statistics has confirmed a census in England and Wales this year will go ahead, with "special arrangements", despite the decision in the Irish Republic to postpone the count until 2002.

Click here to return to text