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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| New foot-and-mouth case suspected | New foot-and-mouth case suspected |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| There is a "clinical suspicion" of a new foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey - outside the existing surveillance zone, it has been announced. | There is a "clinical suspicion" of a new foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey - outside the existing surveillance zone, it has been announced. |
| Chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds said a new 3km (1.8 mile) temporary control zone was in place at a farm. | |
| Lawrence Matthews, who owns the farm, near Dorking, said he was confident his cattle did not have foot-and-mouth. | |
| A confirmed outbreak would be the first outside the existing 10km (6.2 miles) surveillance zone. | |
| That is around two Guildford farms where the disease has been confirmed. | That is around two Guildford farms where the disease has been confirmed. |
| Ms Reynolds said the new control zone at a farm to the west of Dorking - not far from the two confirmed cases of the disease near Guildford - had been set up after an "inconclusive assessment" of symptoms in cattle. | Ms Reynolds said the new control zone at a farm to the west of Dorking - not far from the two confirmed cases of the disease near Guildford - had been set up after an "inconclusive assessment" of symptoms in cattle. |
| She said the disease had not been confirmed and that laboratory results would follow. | She said the disease had not been confirmed and that laboratory results would follow. |
| HOW FOOT-AND-MOUTH SPREADS Direct contact, from animal to animalFluid from an infected animal's blister; saliva, milk or dung also pass on the diseaseAnimals eating infected feedVirus can be spread by people or vehicles, if not disinfected Airborne spread of disease also possibleAnimals can begin spreading virus before visible signs of disease emergeSource: Defra Legionnaires' probe Scotland border curbs eased | HOW FOOT-AND-MOUTH SPREADS Direct contact, from animal to animalFluid from an infected animal's blister; saliva, milk or dung also pass on the diseaseAnimals eating infected feedVirus can be spread by people or vehicles, if not disinfected Airborne spread of disease also possibleAnimals can begin spreading virus before visible signs of disease emergeSource: Defra Legionnaires' probe Scotland border curbs eased |
| "This is a developing disease situation," she added. | "This is a developing disease situation," she added. |
| "The containment and eradication of foot-and-mouth disease remains our priority. | "The containment and eradication of foot-and-mouth disease remains our priority. |
| "This is why we have moved swiftly to put in place a temporary control zone while we investigate this development." | "This is why we have moved swiftly to put in place a temporary control zone while we investigate this development." |
| The first cases of foot-and-mouth were found in cattle at Woolford Farm, near Guildford, last Friday and a second outbreak was confirmed at a neighbouring farm on Monday. Cattle in both cases have been culled. | The first cases of foot-and-mouth were found in cattle at Woolford Farm, near Guildford, last Friday and a second outbreak was confirmed at a neighbouring farm on Monday. Cattle in both cases have been culled. |
| A 3km (1.8 mile) protection zone was set up around the original affected farms as well as a wider 10km (6.2 miles) surveillance zone. | A 3km (1.8 mile) protection zone was set up around the original affected farms as well as a wider 10km (6.2 miles) surveillance zone. |
| Some 362 animals have been culled at a third farm within that surveillance zone, on suspicion that the disease could be developing there. | Some 362 animals have been culled at a third farm within that surveillance zone, on suspicion that the disease could be developing there. |
| Results of tests at that farm have yet to be announced. | Results of tests at that farm have yet to be announced. |
| Vaccinations call | Vaccinations call |
| Farmers said they were relieved the disease had not spread too far, but expressed concern over the new control zone. | Farmers said they were relieved the disease had not spread too far, but expressed concern over the new control zone. |
| Mike Giffin, chairman of the Surrey branch of the National Farmers' Union, said: "I think farmers are thinking this is not 2001. | Mike Giffin, chairman of the Surrey branch of the National Farmers' Union, said: "I think farmers are thinking this is not 2001. |
| "We've got it - it's very, very localised. Defra has acted quickly, we've got it under control at the moment and most - nearly all - of the country is still foot-and-mouth free." | "We've got it - it's very, very localised. Defra has acted quickly, we've got it under control at the moment and most - nearly all - of the country is still foot-and-mouth free." |
| But Hugh Broom, also of the Surrey branch, said the latest development was "worrying". | But Hugh Broom, also of the Surrey branch, said the latest development was "worrying". |
| See layout of laboratory complexes at Pirbright siteEnlarge Image | See layout of laboratory complexes at Pirbright siteEnlarge Image |
| "It will be worrying for our members here and for farmers elsewhere in the country," he said. | "It will be worrying for our members here and for farmers elsewhere in the country," he said. |
| "But, thankfully at the moment, we're not talking about an outbreak outside Surrey." | "But, thankfully at the moment, we're not talking about an outbreak outside Surrey." |
| Lib Dem environment spokesman Chris Huhne urged the government to consider vaccinations to stop the disease spreading. | Lib Dem environment spokesman Chris Huhne urged the government to consider vaccinations to stop the disease spreading. |
| "If it's a confirmed outbreak then I do think the government is going to have to look at other options than the culling option that it's been looking at so far," he told BBC News. | "If it's a confirmed outbreak then I do think the government is going to have to look at other options than the culling option that it's been looking at so far," he told BBC News. |
| "It does seem to be spreading outside the surveillance zone and the last thing we want is another 2001 spreading throughout the countryside." | "It does seem to be spreading outside the surveillance zone and the last thing we want is another 2001 spreading throughout the countryside." |
| Flooding risk | Flooding risk |
| Restrictions on taking animals to abattoirs have been lifted but many movements of livestock - such as sending animals to market - are still banned. | Restrictions on taking animals to abattoirs have been lifted but many movements of livestock - such as sending animals to market - are still banned. |
| Some restrictions had already been lifted in Scotland and Wales. | Some restrictions had already been lifted in Scotland and Wales. |
| READ THE FINDINGS Initial report into Pirbright site by Health and Safety Executive [94.5KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | READ THE FINDINGS Initial report into Pirbright site by Health and Safety Executive [94.5KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| Health inspectors are reportedly looking into the possibility that foot-and-mouth was originally transferred by employees at vaccine manufacturer Merial, based at the Pirbright lab site, near the original affected farms. | Health inspectors are reportedly looking into the possibility that foot-and-mouth was originally transferred by employees at vaccine manufacturer Merial, based at the Pirbright lab site, near the original affected farms. |
| The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said that either private company Merial, or the state-run Institute for Animal Health, both based at Pirbright, could be the source of the outbreak. | The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said that either private company Merial, or the state-run Institute for Animal Health, both based at Pirbright, could be the source of the outbreak. |
| Meanwhile, BBC's Newsnight programme has learnt that the Pirbight site is in an area the Environment Agency classes as at risk of severe flooding. | Meanwhile, BBC's Newsnight programme has learnt that the Pirbight site is in an area the Environment Agency classes as at risk of severe flooding. |
| The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' own guidelines state that such laboratories should not be placed anywhere where there is a danger of flooding. | The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' own guidelines state that such laboratories should not be placed anywhere where there is a danger of flooding. |
| Lib Dem science spokesman Dr Evan Harris said answers were needed as to how clearance could be given for the laboratories to be built "given the potential link between flooding of the land on which the plant was built and spreading of the virus". | Lib Dem science spokesman Dr Evan Harris said answers were needed as to how clearance could be given for the laboratories to be built "given the potential link between flooding of the land on which the plant was built and spreading of the virus". |
| But the HSE has said there was a "negligible" risk the virus had been spread by the wind or flooding. | But the HSE has said there was a "negligible" risk the virus had been spread by the wind or flooding. |