Foot and mouth a bioterrorism threat, says Clark

Agri Quality Bio Security officers question drivers leaving the Kennedy Point vehicle ferry terminal on Waiheke Island today. Picture / Fotopress

The Prime Minister has said she regards the foot and mouth scare as a bioterrorism threat.

An alert was launched yesterday after a letter was sent to Helen Clark by a person claiming to have a vial of the virus, and demanding money and changes to the Government's tax policy.

Officials are searching Waiheke Island, off Auckland, today for signs of the disease, though police have said there is "no question" it is a hoax.

Helen Clark said: "I regard this as a bioterrorism threat, and very severe penalties are in place for such crimes."

She added, speaking to a Canterbury student radio station: "We have to take this very seriously, even though we are reasonably confident it is a hoax."

The Prime Minister said every effort was being made to reassure New Zealand's major trading partners that the situation was being taken seriously.

Countries worldwide are continuing to trade with New Zealand. Of 50 countries told of the claim of an outbreak, only Mexico has expressed serious concerns about exports, New Zealand Food Safety Authority director Andrew McKenzie said.

Police said this morning the extortion attempt could be a stunt for Massey University's capping week, which is now under way.

Assistant Commissioner Peter Marshall said whoever sent the letter may be liable for years in prison if identified and convicted.

Asked if it was possible the extortion letter -- which threatened to also release foot and mouth disease on the mainland if specific demands were not met by Friday -- was a stunt for Massey University's capping week, he said: "We are very conscious that a certain university has a capping week... it has been a consideration for us."

A US Government official said it was not stopping NZ exports and that it could provide specialist support if necessary.

The 50 countries and the EU appreciated hearing the news from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade last night rather than from media, Dr McKenzie said.

Apart from Mexico, the countries were "comfortable with our approach". However, even Mexico had signalled late yesterday it would take animal consignments on a case-by-case basis.

The EU and Japan had an expectation that New Zealand would not export infected animals, and Japan was expected to adopt a similar attitude to imports as Mexico, he said.

One consignment of beef cattle was in mid-air as news of the letter broke yesterday. But the animals had been quarantined in New Zealand for some time before they left and posed no threat, he said.

Though police said there was "no question" the claim was a hoax, biosecurity officials are calling on all New Zealanders to be vigilant for signs of the devastating farming disease amid fears for the economy if there is an outbreak.

Police, biosecurity and food safety officials today announced they were stepping up measures on the island, sending eight veterinarians and nine police officers to supplement those already there.

All Waiheke's entrance ports were today either closed or closely guarded, with visitors to the popular tourist destination being advised not to bring back animal products back to the mainland.

However, less than half the island's farmers had been contacted about the alert by this morning, the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry's Biosecurity NZ director Barry O'Neil said.

Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton described the letter to the Prime Minister as "a case of terrorism".

- NZPA, HERALD ONLINE STAFF