Foot and Mouth Disease confirmed in Surrey: national movement ban in place
| This news story was last substantively updated on 14 September 2007. For later news on this story please see Defra's news story index and/or the Foot and Mouth Disease website. |
Update: 12:00, 14 September
Laboratory tests have today confirmed the presence of Foot and Mouth Disease in the cattle herd at the slaughter on suspicion premises, where culling was completed yesterday.
The farm is within the existing Protection Zone and adjacent to the Infected Premises confirmed on Tuesday.
Minor changes have now been made to the Protection Zones and Surveillance Zone in the area.
The new zones can be found on the Foot and Mouth Disease website.
Update: 21:50, 13 September
The Temporary Control Zone in Norfolk has been lifted this evening following negative laboratory results for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
The current disease situation remains that one case of FMD has been confirmed on a farm in Surrey and, as previously announced, animals at a farm adjacent to the Infected Premises are also being slaughtered on suspicion of disease.
Initial sequencing tests of the virus have shown it to be type 01 BFS67. This is the strain found in the August outbreak. A full epidemiological investigation into the source of the outbreak is ongoing.
Update: 22.10, 12 September
Limited movements of animals susceptible to Foot and Mouth Disease are being allowed under strict biosecurity arrangements, to address immediate welfare issues, in line with the contingency plan. The general ban on movements of animals susceptible to Foot and Mouth Disease, announced earlier today, remains in place.
A decision has been taken to slaughter, on suspicion, animals on a farm adjacent to the Infected Premises in Surrey that was confirmed earlier today. This is a precautionary measure.
Further details are in Defra's news release and in the movement licences section of the Foot and Mouth website.
Update: 17.00, 12 September
This afternoon a Temporary Control Zone has been put around one premises in Norfolk. This is a precautionary measure. An assessment of clinical symptoms by Animal Health veterinary staff has been carried out, and laboratory test results are awaited. At this stage disease has not been confirmed. The containment and eradication of Foot and Mouth Disease is our top priority. Further details are in Defra's news release.
Surrey outbreak: national movement ban in place
Initial laboratory tests on the samples taken this morning from cattle on a holding in Surrey have indicated the presence of Foot and Mouth Disease. On the basis of these initial results and clinical symptoms UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Debby Reynolds has confirmed Foot and Mouth Disease.
The farm comprises a number of separate parcels of land and a single Protection Zone has been put in place extending a three kilometres radius from each of them, with a Surveillance Zone of 10 kilometres radius beyond that.
Footpaths will be closed in the Protection Zone.
A national movement ban – affecting cattle, sheep, pigs and other ruminants – has now been imposed in England. Similar arrangements are being made in Scotland and Wales. No movements of susceptible animals are allowed except under licence. The licence conditions may vary between England, Scotland and Wales.
In England, controls are in place on movement of animal carcasses and animal gatherings. Shearing and dipping are restricted and all farms must increase levels of biosecurity. In the Protection and Surveillance Zones, there will be requirements for increased levels of biosecurity on farms, movement controls, controls on transportation of dung/manure and treatment of animal products to ensure destruction of the Foot and Mouth Disease virus. Confirmation of the movements which will be permitted under licenses will be issued later today.
Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn, said:
“This is news that no one wanted to hear, least of all the farming industry. The immediate establishment of both a Protection Zone, with footpaths closed within it, and a national animal movement ban shows our determination to contain and eradicate this latest outbreak. Having spoken this morning to farming industry representatives, I know they share this view and the utmost vigilance is now needed from everyone.”
Debby Reynolds said:
“At this stage we have not identified the strain or origin of this outbreak. The situation remains uncertain, and I urge all animal keepers to be vigilant for signs of disease, practice stringent biosecurity measures, including the movement ban and licensing conditions.”
All animals currently in transit should continue to their destination where they should remain in place.
The European Commission has been informed.
Page last modified: 14 September 2007 12:00
Page published: 12 September 2007