NEWS RELEASE
Date: 5 August 2007
Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960
Additional Foot and Mouth Disease test results in Surrey
The culling of the cattle on the infected enterprise in Surrey was completed yesterday. This included the 38 cattle known to be infected, and the cattle on the 2 additional sites, which together make up this same farming enterprise. The cattle on these two sites, both within the Surveillance Zone, showed no clinical signs of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) but were culled in line with normal procedure and tested. Results today have revealed that of the additional animals slaughtered one of them tested positive for FMD.
In line with normal procedures, Debby Reynolds, Chief Veterinary Officer has instructed that an additional 3km radius Protection Zone and wider 10km radius Surveillance Zone be placed around the second part of the farm. In addition, as a precaution because of potentially dangerous contacts, susceptible animals on one farm located next door to the field are being culled.
All procedures are being applied in line with the agreed contingency plan and intensive work is continuing to be done around the infected area to eradicate the disease. We are grateful for the cooperation of the local community.
Notes to editors
1. The Defra public helpline is currently operating from 6am-10pm. The public should call: 08459 335577.
(For current Helpline hours please see "Contacting Defra")
2. Advice from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is that Foot and Mouth Disease is not a direct public health threat. The Food Standards Agency considers that foot and mouth disease has no implications for the human food chain.
3. FMD is a disease of cattle and very few human cases have ever been recorded even though the disease is endemic in animals in many parts of the world including Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. Foot and mouth disease only crosses the species barrier from cattle to human with very great difficulty. The last human case reported in Britain occurred in 1966. The disease in humans, in the very rare cases that have occurred, is mild, short-lived and requires no medical treatment.
4. The exact details on the measures that apply in Protection and Surveillance Zones can be found on the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/
End
Public enquiries: 08459 335577
News releases available on our website:
www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development
Page published: 5 August 2007 14:20
Page last modified: 15 August 2007 18:00