INFORMATION BULLETIN
Date: 15 August 2007
Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960
Foot and Mouth update: temporary control zones lifted
Based on further negative laboratory results for Foot and Mouth Disease and supporting veterinary advice, the decision has been taken to lift the two Temporary Control Zones in Kent and Surrey this evening.
As stated in the news release earlier today, the lifting of the Temporary Control Zones, combined with no further changes in the disease situation elsewhere means that the vaccination teams will be stood down from their current level of alert. Teams could be stood up again in five days, if needed.
Information on the latest situation on the Food and Mouth Disease outbreak can be found on the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth
Notes to editors
1 Biosecurity advice:
- Biosecurity literally means ‘safe life’. If you work or come into contact with farm animals, biosecurity means taking steps to make sure that good hygiene practices are in place. This will help prevent the spread of animal disease. Disease may not always be apparent, especially in the early stages.
- Be clean, particularly if handling animals or moving between different premises - if direct contact with farm animals cannot be prevented then it's best practice to cleanse and disinfect protective clothing, footwear, equipment, vehicles etc. before and after contact.
- A good biosecurity routine is always essential – not just when there is a major disease outbreak. You should ensure that work methods are designed to minimise where possible movements of people, vehicles or equipment into areas where farm animals are kept.
- During an outbreak: Only essential visitors should visit any premises with farm animals within areas where restrictions are involved.
2 Advice from the Health Protection Agency is that foot and mouth disease is not a public health threat.
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 Defra public helpline is currently operating from 8am-8pm. The public should call: 08459 335577.
5 Where farmers are facing acute welfare problems as a result of the movement restrictions they can contact the RSPCA Farm Welfare Hotline 0870 7538 333
6 Surrey County Council are operating a County Council Trading Standards service helpline on 01372 371692, open Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm and Saturday /Sunday 10am to 4pm. This helpline can be used by local farmers and residents to seek advice or information, report infringements or breaches of movement controls, and report breaches of footpath closures.
End
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Page published: 15 August 2007 20:00