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New foot-and-mouth case confirmed New foot-and-mouth case confirmed
(30 minutes later)
A new case of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in Surrey, the government has said.A new case of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in Surrey, the government has said.
Chief veterinary officer Dr Debby Reynolds confirmed the outbreak near Milton Park Farm, near Egham, where a 10km control zone has been set up.Chief veterinary officer Dr Debby Reynolds confirmed the outbreak near Milton Park Farm, near Egham, where a 10km control zone has been set up.
A national movement ban has been put in place to prevent the disease spreading, and cattle are being culled.A national movement ban has been put in place to prevent the disease spreading, and cattle are being culled.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the government had acted swiftly, and the outbreak was under control.
Meanwhile, vets in Scotland and Norfolk are investigating two sick animals as a precautionary measure.Meanwhile, vets in Scotland and Norfolk are investigating two sick animals as a precautionary measure.
A single sheep is being tested at an agricultural centre in Lanarkshire after showing some symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease. A single sheep is being tested at an agricultural centre in Lanarkshire after showing some signs of illness.
And government sources said a temporary control zone has been established around the unidentified location in Norfolk.And government sources said a temporary control zone has been established around the unidentified location in Norfolk.
Dr Reynolds said foot-and-mouth was "not strongly suspected" but "could not be ruled out".
Maps showing location of suspected outbreak Maps showing location of suspected outbreak
The latest outbreak in Surrey comes just days after the government declared the county to be free of foot-and-mouth.The latest outbreak in Surrey comes just days after the government declared the county to be free of foot-and-mouth.
The farm is just 10 miles from an animal research site in Pirbright, which was the centre of an outbreak in August.The farm is just 10 miles from an animal research site in Pirbright, which was the centre of an outbreak in August.
The surveillance zone around the original outbreak was lifted only at midday on Saturday.The surveillance zone around the original outbreak was lifted only at midday on Saturday.
Surrey County Council said the area at the centre of the outbreak is grazing land attached to Milton Park farm, while the animals on the land are owned by Hardwick Park farm.Surrey County Council said the area at the centre of the outbreak is grazing land attached to Milton Park farm, while the animals on the land are owned by Hardwick Park farm.
Dr Reynolds said up to 300 cattle were being culled on the farm, and a "small number of pigs". The farm is made up of a number of different parcels of land.
Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), said it was a "hammer-blow" to the industry.Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), said it was a "hammer-blow" to the industry.
"Our main focus now must be on controlling and eradicating the disease as quickly as possible," he said."Our main focus now must be on controlling and eradicating the disease as quickly as possible," he said.
This is news that no one wanted to hear, least of all the farming industry Hilary Benn, environment secretary Lanarkshire sheep testedThis is news that no one wanted to hear, least of all the farming industry Hilary Benn, environment secretary Lanarkshire sheep tested
"Farmers must be extremely vigilant and biosecurity is of paramount importance. The imposition of movement restrictions is absolutely imperative to ensure the disease is stopped in its tracks. "Farmers must be extremely vigilant and biosecurity is of paramount importance."
"However, this outbreak could not have come at a worse time, with tens of thousands of stock moving from upland to low-land farm areas in the next few weeks. We must get movement restrictions narrowed down to the area known to be at real risk as quickly as it's safe to do so." He said the outbreak could not have come at a worse time, as tens of thousands of stock were due to be moving from upland to low-land farm areas in the next few weeks.
In a statement, agriculture ministry Defra said: "On the basis of these initial laboratory results and clinical symptoms Debby Reynolds, UK Chief Veterinary Officer, has confirmed foot-and-mouth disease. Agriculture ministry Defra said a movement ban on cattle, sheep, pigs and other ruminants has been imposed in England, and parallel arrangements were being made by the Scottish and Welsh administrations.
"A movement ban of cattle, sheep, pigs and other ruminants has now been imposed in England and parallel arrangements are being made by the Scottish and Welsh administrations." Dr Reynolds urged farmers to remain vigilant and report any suspicions.
Dr Reynolds said the control zone was put in place swiftly because "containment and eradication of foot-and-mouth is our top priority".
Restrictions have been put in place at the farm in SurreyRestrictions have been put in place at the farm in Surrey
She urged farmers to remain vigilant and report any suspicions. Microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington, of Aberdeen University, said he would be "extremely surprised" if it was not the same strain as the one identified last month.
Microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington, of Aberdeen University, said "extremely surprised" if it was not the same strain as the one identified last month. He said: "It's not odd that it was still quietly lurking around.
Prof Pennington said: "Before this year we've only had two importations of the virus in the last 40 years - in 1967 and 2001 - and I would be staggered if this is a fourth."
He continued: "We have to find out how the virus got to Egham - but it's not odd that it was still quietly lurking around.
"In the optimum damp, cool conditions we've been experiencing recently, it can last a couple of months, depending on the surface it is on.""In the optimum damp, cool conditions we've been experiencing recently, it can last a couple of months, depending on the surface it is on."
Cross-contamination from sheep was another avenue experts would be exploring, he added.Cross-contamination from sheep was another avenue experts would be exploring, he added.
"Crucially, sheep don't display symptoms of the disease, so if they could have come into contact with cattle without anyone realising they were ill, it could have spread over a longer period."
Emergency meetingEmergency meeting
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "This is news that no one wanted to hear, least of all the farming industry. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn talked of his "determination" to contain and eradicate the outbreak.
"The immediate establishment of both a protection zone, with footpaths closed within it, and a national animal movement ban shows our determination to contain and eradicate this latest outbreak. The utmost vigilance was needed from everyone, he added.
"Having spoken this morning to farming industry representatives, I know they share this view and the utmost vigilance is now needed from everyone." Shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth criticised the government's initial response.
Shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth criticised the government's initial response and said it was the "worst news" for farmers.
Police have been sealing off roads near the farmPolice have been sealing off roads near the farm
"As a precautionary measure, because you can't take risks with foot-and-mouth, there should have been a national movement ban put in place straightaway," he said."As a precautionary measure, because you can't take risks with foot-and-mouth, there should have been a national movement ban put in place straightaway," he said.
"It's just the worst news that farmers could possibly have expected or wanted."
Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne said: "It is crucial to quickly identify whether this strain of the virus was being worked on at Pirbright or matches the previous outbreak, and whether biosecurity at the labs has failed again."Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne said: "It is crucial to quickly identify whether this strain of the virus was being worked on at Pirbright or matches the previous outbreak, and whether biosecurity at the labs has failed again."
The EU has halted plans to lift the export ban on livestock products from the area around the original outbreak. Live animals and meat products can be exported from outside the surveillance zone around it, with additional veterinary supervision and certification.The EU has halted plans to lift the export ban on livestock products from the area around the original outbreak. Live animals and meat products can be exported from outside the surveillance zone around it, with additional veterinary supervision and certification.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee.
Drains blamedDrains blamed
The control zone was set up around the suspected outbreak at 0935 BST.The control zone was set up around the suspected outbreak at 0935 BST.
Parts of the Windsor Castle estate fall within the zone, and a number of precautionary measures have been introduced - gates have been closed, disinfectant pads established, and the deer park closed.Parts of the Windsor Castle estate fall within the zone, and a number of precautionary measures have been introduced - gates have been closed, disinfectant pads established, and the deer park closed.
All riding permits and the Guards polo matches in Windsor Great Park have been suspended and dogs will have to be kept on a lead.All riding permits and the Guards polo matches in Windsor Great Park have been suspended and dogs will have to be kept on a lead.
Earlier in the summer, two farms tested positive for the disease.Earlier in the summer, two farms tested positive for the disease.
Foot-and-mouth was confirmed in a herd of cattle at Woolford Farm in Surrey on 3 August.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. The all-clear was later given.A second case, at a farm nearby, was confirmed on 7 August. The all-clear was later given.
A report into the previous outbreak found it was probably caused by leaking drains, heavy rain and building work at the Pirbright site, four miles from where the disease was originally found.A report into the previous outbreak found it was probably caused by leaking drains, heavy rain and building work at the Pirbright site, four miles from where the disease was originally found.
But the Health and Safety Executive said it was not clear which of the two labs which share the site - Merial, a private pharmaceutical company, and the Institute of Animal Health (IAH) - were responsible.But the Health and Safety Executive said it was not clear which of the two labs which share the site - Merial, a private pharmaceutical company, and the Institute of Animal Health (IAH) - were responsible.
A UK-wide movement ban on live animals put in place after that outbreak had been lifted, although a 5km (3 mile) biosecurity zone around the Pirbright site is still in place, according to the Defra website.A UK-wide movement ban on live animals put in place after that outbreak had been lifted, although a 5km (3 mile) biosecurity zone around the Pirbright site is still in place, according to the Defra website.
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Do you live near the site of the suspected outbreak? Do you have any information that you would like to share? Send us your comments by filling in the form below.Do you live near the site of the suspected outbreak? Do you have any information that you would like to share? Send us your comments by filling in the form below.
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