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New foot-and-mouth case suspected New foot-and-mouth case suspected
(40 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 which is in the Romney Marsh area. A control zone has been set up around the farm in the Romney Marsh area, Debby Reynolds said. Cattle have been tested and results are awaited.
Cattle had been tested and officials were awaiting the results, said Dr Reynolds. Ms Reynolds said the case was similar to one in Dorking, Surrey, last week, which turned out to be a false alarm.
She also said the case was similar to one in Dorking, Surrey, last week, where a suspected case turned out to be a false alarm. Animals at two farms in Surrey tested positive for the disease earlier this month, and were culled.
"That was negated, it was ruled out on laboratory testing," Dr Reynolds told the BBC's Southern Counties Radio. Three cattle at the Kent farm have been tested after "an inconclusive assessment of clinical symptoms" of the disease.
"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 3km (1.8 mile) temporary control zone has been put in place around the premises.
A spokeswoman for Defra said a 3km temporary control zone was in place around a farm in Kent as a precaution against foot-and-mouth disease. Ms Reynolds said the test results were expected by the end of Tuesday or early Wednesday.
She said: "It's not unusual to put a temporary control zone in place. A spokeswoman for Defra 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''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".
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.
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. 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. "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," he said.
"There is no need to panic at this stage.""There is no need to panic at this stage."
'Crucial week' 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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6930959.stm">Q&A: Foot-and-mouth
Meanwhile, Culture Secretary James Purnell has announced a £1m aid package for the tourist industry after it was hit by flooding and foot-and-mouth. Meanwhile, Culture Secretary James Purnell has announced a £1m aid package for the tourist industry, after it was hit by flooding and foot-and-mouth.
He announced the money during a visit to two tourist attractions - the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon and Hatton Country World in Warwickshire.He announced the money during a visit to two tourist attractions - the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon and Hatton Country World in Warwickshire.
It will be spent on a marketing campaign to encourage British people to "recognise what is on their doorstep" and holiday here rather than abroad. It will be spent on a marketing campaign to encourage British people to "recognise what is on their doorstep" and holiday at home rather than abroad.
Vets were called to Manor Farm in Wotton, near Dorking, on Thursday after calves began exhibiting signs of a virus. Foot-and-mouth was confirmed in a herd of cattle at Woolford Farm in Surrey on 3 August. A second case, at a farm nearby, was confirmed on 7 August.
On Saturday, Defra announced that tests had proved negative for foot-and-mouth and the control zone around the farm was lifted. A 10km (6.2 mile) surveillance zone is still in place around those farms.
Yesterday, Dr Reynolds told the BBC this would be a "crucial week" in the fight against the disease. Tests on a third suspected case within the zone, where cattle were culled, proved negative, as did those on a fourth possible case also in Surrey but outside the surveillance zone.
On Monday, Dr Reynolds said this would be a "crucial week" in the fight against the disease, in terms of vigilance and planning ahead.
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.
When the outbreak began, a nationwide ban on movements of susceptible animals was put in place.
Some restrictions have since been lifted, but many movements of livestock - such as sending animals to market - are still banned in England.
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