GUERNSEY farmers are on guard after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth at a farm in Surrey. The States veterinary officer has advised Commerce and Employment to ban the import and export of livestock susceptible to the disease following confirmation of the case on Friday.

The nightmare scenario of the 2001 outbreak that devastated UK herds and threatened the island’s animals is still a vivid concern being relived by many local farmers today.

Guernsey Farmers’ Association spokesman James Watts has a herd of 130 Guernsey cows and said he was not panicking but was worried.

‘We are very concerned, but we have our fingers crossed and the fact that there aren’t lots of new cases breaking out around the UK is a reason for remaining optimistic,’ said the 34-year-old.

He said it was a case of waiting to see what happens.

‘The question I would like answered is, if it has gone somewhere, where has it gone?

‘If it hasn’t gone anywhere, then that’s good news, but if it’s moved, then we will just have to wait to find out where.

‘You can’t play the blame game. There’s nothing you can do – you just have to deal with the situation,’ he said.

The St Andrew’s farmer of 10 years, whose father was in the business for 35 years before him, added that one of the greatest concerns with the 2001 outbreak was the lack of knowledge about where the first case had originated. ‘At least they know the source – it’s a starting point. Knowing where it came from goes a long way in controlling any further outbreak,’ he said.

Mr Watts said he had had one call from a concerned farmer.

‘I don’t think anybody is panicking, because everyone hopes it will stop at the first herd and won’t come this far.

‘If it is, it will be absolutely disastrous. But it will affect other people before it reaches us, so we don’t need to overreact just yet.’

He added that the association had not been informed about any measures it should take.

Long-established Castel dairy farmer Julian Ogier, who has a herd of 75, said the UK Government appeared to be handling the outbreak better this time.

‘I think the UK Government is so much more aware of the potential for disaster this time round,’ he said. ‘I don’t think it’s going to escalate like it did last time and I don’t think we are half as concerned as we were in 2001.’

At present, the risk level in the island is considered to be low.

There will be no additional restrictions on the movement of animals around the island or of non-susceptible species, such as dogs and horses, to and from Guernsey.

Deputy States veterinary officer David Jeffery said: ‘Foot-and-mouth disease can have a serious economic impact on farming and we are acutely aware of the need to protect local livestock,’ he said.

‘The current situation seems to be well controlled in the UK and the initial information is very hopeful that prompt action has contained the disease effectively.’

Mr Jeffery said the situation today is very different from that of 2001, when the disease had spread throughout the UK.

‘In that case we put in much greater controls than we consider are necessary or proportionate at the present time,’ he added.

‘We will keep the matter under review and respond appropriately should this position change.

‘We hope that if the measures are effective in containing and stamping out the UK outbreak, we will be able to remove our local controls in a few weeks.’

The public are being advised to avoid travelling through restricted areas in the UK, but there will be no disinfectant measures at the harbours or airport or any restrictions on the movement of meat.

UK inspectors are initially focusing their investigation on private pharmaceutical company Merial, which develops vaccines, because it had most recently used the strain.

Both it and the publicly funded Institute for Animal Health Research facility deny there had been a breach in biosecurity.

There have so far not been any further outbreaks, but UK experts have urged people to remain vigilant as the source has not been officially confirmed.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee yesterday morning, has asked for the results of the investigation to be available by today.

The outbreak in 2001 led to between 6.5m. and 10m. animals being destroyed and cost £8.5bn.