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Suspected case of foot-and-mouth Suspected case of foot-and-mouth
(20 minutes later)
A suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease has been discovered 30 miles away from the last outbreak in Surrey.A suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease has been discovered 30 miles away from the last outbreak in Surrey.
The government has set up a 10km (6.2 mile) exclusion zone around the affected site near Egham and a pre-emptive slaughter has been ordered. The government has set up a 10km (6.2 mile) control zone centred on the affected site near Egham and a pre-emptive slaughter has been ordered.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is due to chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee at 1700 BST.Prime Minister Gordon Brown is due to chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee at 1700 BST.
A report into the August outbreak blamed a leaking pipe at the nearby Pirbright animal research site.A report into the August outbreak blamed a leaking pipe at the nearby Pirbright animal research site.
Maps showing location of suspected outbreak Maps showing location of suspected outbreak
'Happening again'
The UK's chief veterinary officer, Debby Reynolds, said the control zone was put in place swiftly because "containment and eradication of foot-and-mouth is our top priority".The UK's chief veterinary officer, Debby Reynolds, said the control zone was put in place swiftly because "containment and eradication of foot-and-mouth is our top priority".
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the exact location of the suspected outbreak was Stroude Road, Egham.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the exact location of the suspected outbreak was Stroude Road, Egham.
A spokesman said: "Disease has not been confirmed at present. This is only a suspected case. Test results are expected later but we cannot confirm what time."A spokesman said: "Disease has not been confirmed at present. This is only a suspected case. Test results are expected later but we cannot confirm what time."
This is an absolute disaster... we worked so hard to stamp out the early outbreak Peter KendallNational Farmers' Union
A farmer at Stroude Farm, Stroude Road, said he had heard nothing of the news.
He said: "This has made me go all cold. It was only Monday that they opened up the country after the last time.
"I can't believe it's happening again. I have heard nothing about it. You'd think they'd let us know."
The Cobra meeting will take place once the government has received the results.The Cobra meeting will take place once the government has received the results.
Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers' Union, said if the results were positive, it could "shut the industry down again".Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers' Union, said if the results were positive, it could "shut the industry down again".
"This is an absolute disaster," he said. "We worked so hard to stamp out the early outbreak, and we are now waiting to see whether it's a confirmation.""This is an absolute disaster," he said. "We worked so hard to stamp out the early outbreak, and we are now waiting to see whether it's a confirmation."
Previous outbreakPrevious outbreak
It comes a day after a committee of EU vets agreed to ratify plans to lift the ban on exports of meat and dairy products from Britain to the rest of Europe. This has now been put on hold in light of the suspected outbreak.
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.
Earlier in the summer, two farms tested positive for the disease but the all-clear has since been given.Earlier in the summer, two farms tested positive for the disease but the all-clear has since been given.
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.A second case, at a farm nearby, was confirmed on 7 August.
On 7 September, the government declared Surrey to be foot-and-mouth free.On 7 September, the government declared Surrey to be foot-and-mouth free.
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.
The new suspected case comes a day after the European Commission decided to lift the remaining trade restrictions put in place after the last outbreak. It has now suspended that decision.
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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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