Special treatment

Vets in Britain and other European Union countries last week received the
go-ahead to vaccinate endangered zoo animals and rare livestock breeds against
foot and mouth disease. Europe’s Standing Veterinary Committee, meeting in
Brussels, said that zoo animals vulnerable to the disease could be vaccinated
once an outbreak had occurred within 25 kilometres. To be eligible, animals must
appear on the World Conservation Union’s Red List of endangered species, but the
vaccination may be extended “in exceptional circumstances to other animals such
as extremely rare breeds, or animals used for irreplaceable and important
research work”, said the committee.