Foot and Mouth Disease in cattle, Surrey
| This news story was last substantively updated on 15 August 2007. For later news on this story please see Defra's news story index and/or the Foot and Mouth Disease website. |
Update: 15 August
Chief Veterinary Officer, Debby Reynolds has today set out the following:
- the latest Epidemiological Report;
- changes to current restrictions on animal movement in support of welfare; and
- the standing down of vaccination teams, provided that initial negative results from the current temporary control zones in Kent and Surrey are followed by negative results from the final tests.
Update: 14 August
This morning a 3km radius temporary control zone was put around one premises in Kent. A further 3km radius temporary control zone has been put in place this afternoon around a premises in Surrey. Both are outside the existing Surveillance Zone in Surrey.
Both are precautionary measures following inconclusive assessments of clinical symptoms by Animal Health veterinary staff. The national movement ban remains in place. In addition, in the Temporary Control Zone, general licences will not apply for the movement of animals to slaughter and collection of dead animals from farms.
Debby Reynolds, Chief Veterinary Officer, said:
“The containment and eradication of Foot and Mouth Disease remains our priority. We are in a crucial week for vigilance and planning next steps. Today’s developments are part of our ongoing surveillance and testing and I would take this opportunity to reiterate the need for the highest standards of biosecurity on farms, and for people to remain vigilant for disease and report any suspicions quickly.”
- Defra news release (published 13:00)
- Defra news release (published 17:55)
Update: 13 August
Chief Veterinary Officer, Debby Reynolds has urged keepers in the protection and surveillance zones, if they haven't already, to notify their local Animal Health Office or the Defra Helpline if they have moved animals off their premises since 16 July.
She said:
“As a precautionary measure to supplement our extensive tracings operation, we are asking keepers to report these movements today if they haven’t already.
“In addition, we have been doing extensive work to contact keepers in the protection and surveillance zones. However it is possible that there may be a few keepers who have not yet been contacted by Animal Health. We urge keepers to whom this may apply to make themselves known to us.”
Debby Reynolds again emphasised the continuing importance of relentless vigilance, strict biosecurity, and early reporting of disease.
Update: 11 August
The Temporary Control Zone around a farm in Surrey has been lifted following negative results for Foot and Mouth Disease.
Chief Veterinary Officer, Debby Reynolds, said:
“This is day eight of the foot and mouth outbreak. I must stress the need for relentless vigilance. It is crucial that all animal keepers continue to check their animals regularly and practice the highest possible levels of biosecurity. There is a substantial operation on the ground to prevent the spread of this disease and we are seeing a tremendous response. I would like to thank all of those involved.”
- Defra news release (also summarises the animal movements for which licences have been granted)
Position at 10 August
UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Debby Reynolds confirmed the presence of Foot and Mouth Disease in Surrey last week. Defra’s main priorities continue to be to contain the spread of the virus and identify how it started.
On 9 August a temporary control zone of three kilometres radius was established around one premises in Surrey, outside the existing surveillance zone. This precautionary measure follows an inconclusive assessment of clinical symptoms by Animal Health veterinary staff. [Note - this temporary control zone was lifted on 11 August.]
Debby Reynolds today (10 August) announced a decision not to vaccinate at this time. She said:
“The decision not to vaccinate at this stage, but to retain our full readiness to do so, demonstrates that our contingency planning arrangements are working.”
However, this approach will be kept under constant review as the disease situation develops and the Forward Vaccination Centre will be kept in place.
Defra has published an interim epidemiology report (PDF) (500 KB) into the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Surrey. [Please note an updated epidemiology report was published on 15 August] The report indicates that infection may be contained to the Surrey area. It concludes that it is very likely that the source of infection is the Pirbright site where Merial Animal Health Ltd and the Institute for Animal Health are located.
Access to the countryside
Apart from a small area in Surrey (some land, and rights of way, in the protection zones), the countryside remains open.
Movement of susceptible animals
The national ban preventing the movement of susceptible animals across Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) remains in place. However, in accordance with the contingency plan, a veterinary assessment of the risk from licensing these moves has been carried out. From 00.01 hours on 9 August, the movement of live animals direct to slaughter, and the collection of dead animals from farms is permitted. These general licences only apply outside of the protection, surveillance and temporary zones. Please note that horses are not susceptible animals so are not covered by the ban, unless they are within the protection zone.
Set-aside
A derogation to allow land set-aside to be grazed or harvested for animal feed is being made available to farmers. This allows farmers to graze set-aside land with their own animals or harvest hay or silage for their own uses where it is necessary due to the movement restrictions and will remain in place until the end of the set-aside period (31 August).
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have published the initial report on their investigation at the nearby Pirbright site, operated by the institute for Animal Health and Merial Animal Health Ltd.
An urgent independent review into biosecurity arrangements at Pirbright and the first infected premises has been commissioned led by Professor Brian Spratt of Imperial College. It will report to Hilary Benn and Debby Reynolds.
Page last modified: 15 August 2007 13:30
Page published: 8 August 2007