Disinfection introduced at border points to prevent foot-and-mouth disease

Passengers on flights to Poland and everyone crossing its borders must now go through an unusual procedure in order to reduce the risk of spreading foot-and-mouth disease. New arrivals must disinfect their shoes on special mats and are forbidden to bring in meat. Furthermore passengers from Great Britain and Ireland must fill out a questionnaire concerning the region in which they resided and their contact with animals. Foot and mouth disease was discovered last week in England, Wales and Ireland. It is harmless to people but deadly for sheep, cattle, pigs and goats. Chief state veterinarian Dr. Andrzej Komorowski gave assurances that no sick animals have thus far been brought into Poland. However, without introduction of the new disinfection methods, the risk of importing the virus via Slovakia or the Czech Republic would be high. "I will be quite hopeful as long as the disease stays in Great Britain and Ireland. Otherwise, our animals are endangered," said Komorowski. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p.26) M.K.