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Outbreak at second farm confirmed Outbreak at second farm confirmed
(about 1 hour later)
Cattle which were culled from a second farm in Egham, Surrey, have tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease, the government's chief vet has said. Cattle culled at a second Surrey farm have tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease, it has been confirmed.
A "precautionary" cull of animals had already taken place at Stroude Farm, owned by Ernest Ward. The "precautionary" cull of animals had taken place at Stroude Farm, Egham, near the scene of the outbreak of the disease discovered on Wednesday.
It is close to the scene of Wednesday's outbreak, and is located 10 miles from the Pirbright research complex. Initial tests say the strain found on Wednesday was the same as that found during the outbreak in August.
The site was blamed as the source for the foot-and-mouth outbreaks at two farms last month. The government is also considering easing movement restrictions on animals in England, as in Scotland and Wales.
Debbie Reynolds, the government's chief vet, confirmed that foot-and-mouth was present at the farm Control zone
She added there had now been four infected farms since the initial outbreak of the disease last month. Debby Reynolds, the government's chief vet, confirmed that foot-and-mouth had been present at the farm - taking the total number of farms where the disease has been found in 2007 to four.
Ms Reynolds said she was glad that all the animals on the farm had been culled before the results were announced. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1189765908/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1189765908/html/1.stm', '1189765928', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=416,height=568,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Zones are imposed around a number of sites in Surrey after new foot and mouth outbreak href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1189765908/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1189765908/html/1.stm', '1189765928', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=416,height=568,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Map
She also said the government was considering whether to allow animals in England to be moved to slaughter. Ms Reynolds said she was glad that all the animals on the farm had been culled before the test results were announced.
Steven Ward, the son of Stroude Farm's owner Ernest, had earlier confirmed that 800 pigs and 40 cattle had been culled there.
The farm is about 10 miles from the Pirbright research complex - blamed as the source for the foot-and-mouth outbreaks at two farms last month.
Scientists investigating the latest outbreak are working on the possibility it was carried by soil or through the air, and was not a water-borne transmission.
A 10km (6.2 mile) control zone has been set up around both of the farms affected in the latest outbreak.
'Proportionate response'
The movement ban was put in place across Britain when cattle on land in Egham were found to be infected on Wednesday.
WHAT CONTROL ZONE MEANS Protection zone (3km) - all premises containing livestock inspected by vets, and subject to restrictions on movements of animals, animal products, some vehicles, and some activitiesSurveillance zone (10km) - restrictions on movements of susceptible animals, animal products, manure, and some activities. No restrictions on the movement of non-susceptible animals such as pets, vehicles, or slaughter for private consumption Vital questions Send us your comments
Administrations in Wales and Scotland eased the restrictions to allow farmers to take livestock direct to slaughter.
Animals can still not be traded or moved for any other reason. The Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said the decision was a "proportionate" response.
Farmers say the easing of the total ban will ease the backlog of animals already sold, and will particularly help pig farmers who supply animals under long-term contracts.
The move could also help to avert any possible meat shortages in the shops.
Farmers said the latest outbreak was "much worse" than last month's, because it had come at a time when livestock farmers needed to move their animals, and send them to market.
National Farmers' Union president Peter Kendall said the restrictions would have "enormous economic consequences" for the already struggling livestock industry.
Too quick?
The disease was confirmed in Egham only a week after the previous restrictions on cattle movements were lifted.
WHY IS THE VIRUS BACK? The foot-and-mouth virus is less symptomatic in sheep so an infection from the first outbreak could have been overlookedThe virus can survive in soil for up to 28 daysIt can also survive in water for up to 50 daysFoot-and-mouth can also linger in hay and straw for up to 20 weeksIt could be a new strain of the virus, but experts say this is unlikely Disease 'to cost millions'
The government is facing criticism that it was too quick to declare Britain foot-and-mouth free last week.
It has denied that Dr Reynolds was pressurised into giving the all-clear too early after the last outbreak.
But shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth said the matter "does raise further questions about why the government felt able to declare that foot-and-mouth disease had been 'eradicated'. This was clearly a tragic misjudgement".
The European Commission has banned all live animals susceptible to foot-and-mouth from being exported from Britain. Northern Ireland is exempt from the ban, and can export freely.
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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