FMD is not from us From Mr Narend Singh Sir:
As the cabinet minister responsible for agricultural matters in the South African province of KwaZulu/Natal, I have to correct the statements on foot-and-mouth disease by Frederick Forsyth ('Culpable negligence', 31 March).
While the FMD virus in Britain is of the same pan-Asian strain which struck KwaZulu/Natal last September, it is impossible that it could have been transferred from here.
Our outbreak has been contained to a 15-kilometre radius within a single magisterial district,. and there has not been a positive diagnosis since 2 November. The short incubation period dictates that when the virus appeared in Britain it could not have come from KwaZulu/Natal.
Nor did the pan-Asian virus 'rage' across South Africa. FMD outbreaks in the South African province of Mpumalanga and the neighbouring country of Swaziland were of another strain, which is endemic to southern Africa.
FMD is a terrible scourge and my sympathy goes out to the British people and those affected in Europe. The pan-Asian strain has already struck more than 20 countries in south Asia, the Middle East and the Confederation of Independent States. Britain's infection could have come from any of those sources. But it was not from here.
Narend Singh
Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, Government of KwaZulu/Natal. Ulundi, South Africa
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