New foot and mouth scare confirmed
Officials on site in Egham, Surrey
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Tuesday, 18, Sep 2007 01:53
Foot and mouth disease has been confirmed at a farm in Surrey where sheep, pigs and cattle were culled on suspicion last night.
The confirmation from the government means the unnamed farm, which lies within current protection zones, is the fifth premises to test positive for the disease since the beginning of August and the third in the last week.
"When the animals were examined at slaughter they showed foot and mouth lesions. Results of further laboratory tests are awaited," a statement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.
Last night the department announced the cull was taking place because blood tests had suggested "exposure" to the disease.
"These animals were identified as part of the surveillance work that is being carried out in the area," a statement on the Defra website said.
Foot and mouth disease first hit the headlines this year with the August 3rd outbreak thought to have originated from the Pirbright laboratory site in Surrey, jointly held by the government's Institute of Animal Health and pharmaceutical company Merial.
Just five days after chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds said the disease had been "eradicated from the UK in 2007" a fresh outbreak in Surrey emerged, which was confirmed as being the same strain of foot-and-mouth as in the Pirbright case.
"This is disturbing news," Conservative shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth said of the latest cull.
"All of us, especially in the farming community, have been hoping that the outbreak is now over. It was caused by negligence by the government and its agencies. We have to hope that the government will now be competent in dealing with the clean up."