New Zealand government officials are looking into a recent threat that foot and mouth disease (FMD) was released on nearby Waiheke Island (about 11 miles west of Auckland, New Zealand) May 9.

The government received a letter the afternoon of May 10 stating FMD had been released on the small island, says Barry O’Neil, New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Director of Biosecurity. The letter also contained a request for a large sum of money and change in taxation policy. If these requests are not met, the letter said, FMD will be released on the New Zealand mainland. It is unknown who sent the letter.

Operation Waiheke is currently in the surveillance phase of FMD monitoring–all stock on the island are being checked every 48 hours for the next 14 days (the maximum FMD incubation period), says O’Neil. Six veterinarians, two specialist exotic disease investigators, and three media liaison staff are working on the island trying to uncover the mystery, but claim they have not found any evidence that the disease has been released. Checkpoints to control animal movement of high-risk animals (livestock) off the island have been set up at the two main ferry terminals on the island, with nine police officers to assist disease investigators.

Thirty-nine farms on the island house 2,500 cattle and 18,000 sheep, as well a few pigs. FMD does not pose a health threat to humans or horses, but only cloven-hooved livestock