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The Scottish
Executive issued a letter on 7 March asking that decisions
on access to the countryside should be proportionate to the
risks involved.
The letter referred to the fact that to reduce risk, people
should avoid contact with livestock or land on which livestock
had recently grazed. Since the letter issued, it has come
to my attention, that further clarification of this statement
would be helpful in order to differentiate between the required
approach in enclosed fields or in bye-land and on the open
hillside.
The intention
of the advice issued on 7 March was to prevent people from
taking infection off land where it might be, and spreading
it elsewhere. It was not to prevent people from walking on
the open hills. There is a difference in risk factor between
that which is presented by livestock in an open hill and livestock
on enclosed land.
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On the
open hill, any risk factor arising is likely to be small because
any livestock on the hill will not be densely stocked, and
even if approached, would tend to run away. Enclosed land
is obviously different and the advice is that people should
avoid entering enclosed fields in the lowlands or in bye-land
in the uplands.
One additional
factor which should be taken into account are circumstances
which allow livestock to congregate and move freely near car
parks or picnic sites. This would constitute a risk and should
be avoided in the interests of preventing direct contact between
people and susceptible animals.
I hope
that this clarification is helpful.
Yours
faithfully
MRS MARY
McALLAN Foot and Mouth Policy Co-ordination Unit
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