Forty cattle are being slaughtered at a farm on the Surrey-Berkshire border, after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed there.
Forty cattle have been slaughtered at a farm on the Surrey-Berkshire border, after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed there.
The whole herd at Beaumont College farm in Old Windsor tested positive, said the Department for the Environment.
The whole herd at Beaumont College farm in Old Windsor tested positive, said the Department for the Environment.
It is the fourth case of the disease in the Egham area in two weeks, and the sixth in the region since August.
It is the fourth case of the disease in the Egham area in two weeks and is within the current 3km protection zone, which has been extended northwards.
The latest outbreak is within the current 3km protection zone, which has been extended northwards.
The chief vet said farmers remained the "front line of defence".
The herd is believed to be pure-bred West Sussex cattle, but that has not been confirmed.
Dr Debby Reynolds added that farmers should also check cattle "twice daily".
'Vigilance all important'
Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired a meeting of the government's Cobra emergencies committee in Whitehall to discuss the latest developments on foot-and-mouth, before heading to the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.
Dr Reynolds, speaking after the meeting, told BBC News 24 that the farmer in the latest outbreak had reported suspicions and the farm was visited promptly by animal health officials and the cattle slaughtered on suspicion.
"The vigilance of farmers is all important," she said.
"They are the absolute front line of defence and in partnership with animal health will intensify and obviously work in that protection zone, to see if there is any other evidence of local spread."
Asked whether the government was on top of the situation to find where the outbreak was coming from she said: "It is under constant examination and investigation by epidemiologists."
She confirmed the protection zone and surveillance zones had both been extended northwards slightly and said animal health patrols of cattle were taking place daily.
In addition, the government was working on identifying those parts of the country where movements from Surrey have been traced to give opportunity for "further risk-based staged approaches to movement controls".
'Devastating effect'
'Devastating effect'
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to chair a meeting of the government's Cobra emergencies committee in Whitehall to discuss the latest developments on foot-and-mouth.
After the meeting he will head to the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.
The vice-chairman of the Surrey branch of the National Farmers' Union, Bert Broom, said: "I wouldn't be surprised if we have six or seven cases within hopefully what will remain a small cluster in terms of the numbers of the disease and the sort of coverage of the disease."
The vice-chairman of the Surrey branch of the National Farmers' Union, Bert Broom, said: "I wouldn't be surprised if we have six or seven cases within hopefully what will remain a small cluster in terms of the numbers of the disease and the sort of coverage of the disease."
BBC correspondent Helena Wilkinson said it was not yet known if this strain was the same as the other five cases, but the news would be a further blow to farmers prevented from moving livestock at a busy time of year for sales.
BBC correspondent Helena Wilkinson said it was not yet known if this strain was the same as the other five cases, but the news would be a further blow to farmers prevented from moving livestock at a busy time of year for sales.
Restrictions still exist nationwide
Restrictions still exist nationwide
"It has had a devastating effect, a lot of farmers are saying, on their sales and their livelihood but there's some relief that this sixth confirmed case is within that three-kilometre zone," she said.
"It has had a devastating effect, a lot of farmers are saying, on their sales and their livelihood but there's some relief that this sixth confirmed case is within that three-kilometre zone," she said.
A number of sites outside Surrey have also been investigated and several control zones set up, but these have all proved to be false alarms.
A number of sites outside Surrey have also been investigated and several control zones set up, but these have all proved to be false alarms.
Four new cases near Egham have emerged in the last two weeks - just days after officials declared the UK free of the disease following the August outbreak.
Four new cases near Egham have emerged in the last two weeks - just days after officials declared the UK free of the disease following the August outbreak.
That had been blamed on the virus escaping from leaking pipes at the nearby Pirbright laboratory site.
That had been blamed on the virus escaping from leaking pipes at the nearby Pirbright laboratory site.
Some 1,800 animals have so far been slaughtered but some of the movement restrictions outside the surveillance zone have been lifted.
Some 1,800 animals have so far been slaughtered but some of the movement restrictions outside the surveillance zone have been lifted.
Licences are now available to allow pigs to be moved for welfare reasons, and the movement of animals up to 3km (1.8 miles) or cows for calving up to 50km (31 miles) between premises belonging to the same owner.
Licences are now available to allow pigs to be moved for welfare reasons, and the movement of animals up to 3km (1.8 miles) or cows for calving up to 50km (31 miles) between premises belonging to the same owner.
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