12/09/2007

Case Of Foot-And-Mouth Confirmed

A case of foot-and-mouth has been found at a site in Egham, 10 miles from the scene of the last outbreak in Surrey.

A pre-emptive slaughter of cattle at Milton Park Farm in Stroude Road in Egham is already underway and a 10km exclusion zone has been set by around the site, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed.

Defra said that the presence of the disease at the site was now confirmed following laboratory analyses and a national ban on the movement of livestock is again in force.

It is understood that parts of the Queen's Windsor Estate fall within the exclusion zone and a number of precautionary measures have been introduced, including the closure of the deer park and the suspension of matches at Guards Polo Club.

National Farmers' Union President Peter Kendall has described the latest finding as a "disaster for farming."

The UK's Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Debbie Reynolds has appealed to farmers to be vigilant and report any suspicious animals to the authorities. She said: "The containment and eradication of foot and mouth disease is our top priority."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is due to chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee later today.

Meanwhile, it also emerged on Wednesday afternoon that vets in Scotland were investigating the case of a sick sheep at an agricultural centre in Lanarkshire. The animal was reportedly showing signs of foot-and-mouth disease.

Foot-and-mouth cases were confirmed at two farms in Surrey last month. A report suggested that the likely source of the outbreak was the nearby Pirbright research site, which is shared by private pharmaceutical company Merial and the Institute for Animal Health. However, the report said it was not clear which of the labs was responsible.

Last Friday, the government said that the affected area was now free of foot-and-mouth.

Prior to today's confirmed outbreak, the European Commission was prepared to lift the remaining trade restrictions, which were put in place following last month's outbreak.

(KMcA/SP)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

07 August 2007
Second Outbreak Of Foot-And-Mouth Confirmed
A second case of foot-and-mouth has been confirmed at another farm in Surrey, close to the site of the first outbreak. The cattle at the farm was culled as soon as the signs were spotted on Monday, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn confirmed.
06 July 2015
Teens Arrested Over Boy's Death
Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the "unexplained death" of a 16-year-old in Jersey. The deceased, who was a resident of St Lawrence, was found unconscious on Rue de Becquet Vincent in Trinity at around 9.45am on Sunday by a member of the public. He was taken to hospital, but later pronounced dead.
23 October 2014
Two Killed In South Yorkshire House Fire
A nine-year-old boy and a man, 44, have died in a house fire in South Yorkshire, according to police. An 11-year-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after the blaze in Penistone on Wednesday evening. Emergency services attended the scene at around 6.30pm. The boy and man were later confirmed dead at the hospital.
09 February 2012
Millions Of Holidays Protected As Government Updates ATOL Scheme
Up to six million extra holidays each year will be fully protected against the failure of a travel company after Aviation Minister Theresa Villiers confirmed measures to strengthen and modernise the ATOL holiday protection scheme today.
18 March 2010
Body Pulled From Methil Docks
The body of a man has been pulled from Methil Docks. Fife Constabulary confirmed today that the 44-year-old's remains were recovered from a stolen yellow pick-up truck that entered the water at dock number three at yesterday.