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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| New foot-and-mouth case suspected | New foot-and-mouth case suspected |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A suspected case of foot-and-mouth on a farm in Kent is being investigated, the UK's chief veterinary officer has said. | A suspected case of foot-and-mouth on a farm in Kent is being investigated, the UK's chief veterinary officer has said. |
| Debby Reynolds told the BBC a control zone has been set up around the farm, but did not say exactly where it is. | Debby Reynolds told the BBC a control zone has been set up around the farm, but did not say exactly where it is. |
| Cattle had been tested and officials were now awaiting the results, she said in an interview. | Cattle had been tested and officials were now awaiting the results, she said in an interview. |
| Dr Reynolds also said the case was similar to one in Dorking, Surrey, last week, where a suspected case turned out to be a false alarm. | Dr Reynolds also said the case was similar to one in Dorking, Surrey, last week, where a suspected case turned out to be a false alarm. |
| "That was negated, it was ruled out on laboratory testing," Dr Reynolds told the BBC's Southern Counties Radio. | "That was negated, it was ruled out on laboratory testing," Dr Reynolds told the BBC's Southern Counties Radio. |
| "And so we've now got the same situation in Kent and by probably the end of today, maybe early tomorrow, we'll know those laboratory test results." | "And so we've now got the same situation in Kent and by probably the end of today, maybe early tomorrow, we'll know those laboratory test results." |
| A spokeswoman for Defra said a temporary control zone was in place around a farm in Kent as a precaution against foot-and-mouth disease. | A spokeswoman for Defra said a temporary control zone was in place around a farm in Kent as a precaution against foot-and-mouth disease. |
| She said: "It's not unusual to put a temporary control zone in place. | She said: "It's not unusual to put a temporary control zone in place. |
| "We're being ultra-cautious at this point. There's a continuing need for relentless vigilance in response to foot-and-mouth disease." | "We're being ultra-cautious at this point. There's a continuing need for relentless vigilance in response to foot-and-mouth disease." |
| 'No need to panic' | |
| The BBC's environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said three cattle in Kent have been tested after showing "clinical signs of the disease". | The BBC's environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said three cattle in Kent have been tested after showing "clinical signs of the disease". |
| 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 emerge Source: Defra Q&A: Foot-and-mouth | |
| A spokesman for the National Farmers' Union said it was trying to find out more about the possible case and believed a 3km control zone had been put around the farm. | A spokesman for the National Farmers' Union said it was trying to find out more about the possible case and believed a 3km control zone had been put around the farm. |
| This is the first suspected case outside Surrey during the outbreak. | This is the first suspected case outside Surrey during the outbreak. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio Kent, Minister for the South East Jonathan Shaw said the farmer involved should be congratulated for his vigilance. | |
| "We have also moved swiftly as we have done throughout this process and the temporary control zone will allow us to be precautionary while we wait for the lab results to come back," Mr Shaw said. | |
| "There is no need to panic at this stage." | |
| 'Crucial week' | |
| Meanwhile, Culture Secretary James Purnell is set to announce a package of aid for the tourist industry after it was hit by flooding and foot-and-mouth. | Meanwhile, Culture Secretary James Purnell is set to announce a package of aid for the tourist industry after it was hit by flooding and foot-and-mouth. |
| He will announce the aid during a visit to two tourist attractions - the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon and Hatton Country World in Warwickshire. | He will announce the aid during a visit to two tourist attractions - the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon and Hatton Country World in Warwickshire. |
| Vets were called to Manor Farm in Wotton, near Dorking, on Thursday after calves began exhibiting signs of a virus. | Vets were called to Manor Farm in Wotton, near Dorking, on Thursday after calves began exhibiting signs of a virus. |
| On Saturday, Defra announced that tests had proved negative for foot-and-mouth and the control zone around the farm was lifted. | On Saturday, Defra announced that tests had proved negative for foot-and-mouth and the control zone around the farm was lifted. |
| Yesterday, Dr Reynolds told the BBC this would be a "crucial week" in the fight against the disease. | Yesterday, Dr Reynolds told the BBC this would be a "crucial week" in the fight against the disease. |
| The government is awaiting the results of independent tests on soil taken from the original outbreak site at the Pirbright laboratories. | The government is awaiting the results of independent tests on soil taken from the original outbreak site at the Pirbright laboratories. |
| The data is currently being analysed by the Health and Safety Executive. | The data is currently being analysed by the Health and Safety Executive. |
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