Book your place and join us for Star Trekk 2025

THIS year Southport is expected to see the biggest fundraising event yet for Queenscourt Hospice. This year the annual Star Trekk 10k takes place on:- Friday, 9 May 2025, at:- 7.30 pm, starting at the:- Adventure Coast Southport (formerly Southport Pleasureland). All ages are able to take part in the event and everyone is encouraged to get dressed up for the occasion...

a spokesperson for the event has told us that:- "We're getting excited and hope to soon see all our trekkers return for our annual Star Trekk 10k night walk. This event not only helps raise much needed funs for our charity, but it also provides some much needed fun for our local community at the same time. To take part and book your place please visit:- Queenscourt.Org.UK/StarTrekk, or call us on:- 01704517420."

If you are not taking part but can make it down to Southport, please come and cheer those taking part as they run, walk, hop and skip along the course.

UK temporarily bans EU cheese and meat

HOLIDAYMAKERS are being warned that the UK Government has put in place a temporarily ban on EU meats and cheeses being brought into the country, in an effort to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease.

As a transboundary animal disease, Foot and Mouth Disease significantly disrupts livestock production and hampers regional and international trade in animals and animal products.

The restrictions apply to all products regardless of whether they are packaged or part packaged. This includes items obtained in duty free, and in sandwiches.

The ban started since:- Saturday, 12 April 2025... due to the growing concerns of the growing spread of the disease within the EU.

A Defra spokesperson said:- "The Government will do whatever it takes to protect our nation�s farmers from the risk posed by foot and mouth disease. That is why restrictions were immediately brought in on animal products from Germany to prevent an outbreak. We ensured that auto clearance facilities were superseded by robust biosecurity controls which were implemented at pace following confirmation of the outbreak."

This highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle, such as:- cows, sheep, pigs, and other cloven hoofed animals, like:- deer, goats, and water buffalo, was 1st documented in:- 1870 in the United States. The disease was later officially identified as being caused by a virus in:- 1897. However, descriptions of the disease resembling the current Foot and Mouth Disease dates back to:- 1514, with an Italian monk:- Hieronymus Fracastorius, observing it in:- Venice.

Outbreaks of the virus can have significant economic consequences, like what happened in Britain when it experienced its worst Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak, which ran from:- 1967 to 1968. This epidemic was1 of the worst economic hits to the of the UK farming community of the 20th Century.

Recently, in 2001 an outbreak in the UK resulted in the slaughter of over 6 million animals to contain the pathogen. This was also a devastating loss for both the UK farming industry and the UK economy.

According to Defra, the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the UK last detected cases of Foot and Mouth Disease in the UK was in 2007.

There are currently NO cases in the UK, and the Government is doing its best to keep UK livestock free from inflation. It is hoped measures being put in place by the UK Government will help to prevent another outbreak and the devastation to the farming community that such an epidemic brings.

In regard to the resent European Commission situation, Foot and Mouth Disease was detected in Germany, on:- 10 January 2025, along with cases being reported in both:- Hungary on:- 7 March 2025, and Slovakia on:- 21 March 2025.

This outbreak means holidaymakers must not bring meat or dairy products into Great Britain for any reason, including those to be used for personal consumption, if those goods are from:-

The EU.
EFTA States.
The Faroe Islands.
Greenland.

You can check the rules for bringing food into Great Britain for personal use online at:- Gov.UK.

Traders are also being affected by restrictions that includes those on both hay and straw, along with any live animal belonging to a Foot and Mouth Disease susceptible species. Traders can check the latest rules also online on the:- Gov.UK website for more information.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has published infographics highlighting how to recognise Foot and Mouth Disease on its website, and the 3 key principles to protect from FMD can also be found online at:- WOAH.Org website.

It is reported that the outbreak in:- Brandenburg, Germany, was involving 3 water buffaloes, all of which died. Laboratory analysis identified the virus as:- Foot and Mouth Disease Serotype O. Genetic sequencing revealed the closest match to a strain previously detected in:- T�rkiye, back in December 2024, and earlier in countries such as those detected in:- Iran, India, and Nepal.

The confirmed cases detected in:- Hungary, near the:- Slovakian border are reported to have seen 1,400 animals in dairy cattle farm housing having been infected. This finding came after clinical signs were observed in a group of heifers. Both the National Reference Laboratory and the EU Reference Laboratory for Foot and Mouth Disease identified the virus as serotype O, with the closest sequence being last detected in:- Pakistan, in:- 2018.

It is also reported that the Slovakia's multiple cases are from farms near its border with Hungary and Austria. As of now, 6 holdings have been affected.

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks in Europe, please visit the European Commission (EC) website.

Veterinarians and livestock keepers and traders are strongly encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspected Foot and Mouth Disease cases of this highly infectious disease immediately.

For more details on the restrictions in the UK and updates about the situation please go to:- Gov.UK.