New Case Of Foot And Mouth Investigated In Surrey
UK - Fears of a proliferation in the foot and mouth outbreak were mounting late last night after the government's chief veterinary officer announced the creation of a new control zone outside the original surveillance zone in Surrey.
10 August 2007
2 minute read
Debby Reynolds told reporters that some "mild clinical signs" which had been detected in livestock at a farm were a cause for concern, but added that it was not clear whether the outbreak was foot and mouth. A temporary three kilometre zone had been established around the site, which is believed to be several miles to the east of the original outbreak sites.
"At this stage, disease has not been confirmed, laboratory results will follow," she said. "Containment and eradication of foot and mouth disease remains our priority. This is why we have moved swiftly to put in place a temporary control zone while we investigate this development."
Any confirmation of the disease at the site would indicate it has spread further from the epicentre close to two Surrey laboratories near Guildford which work with foot and mouth vaccines.
Hugh Broom, of the National Farmers' Union, said the suspected case was "very worrying ... People are going to be even more apprehensive than they have been throughout the whole of this."
Cattle from two farms have tested positive for the disease, and animals on a third farm within the original protection zone have been culled, with results of testing there expected imminently. In total, 576 cattle have been slaughtered.
In an earlier twist to the foot and mouth outbreak, it emerged yesterday that a case of legionnaires' disease had been linked to one of the two Surrey laboratories.
The Health Protection Agency confirmed that the Institute for Animal Health, at Pirbright, was one of several locations being assessed after a contract worker at the lab reported symptoms associated with legionella infection.
