Foot and Mouth Disease in Surrey: seven Infected Premises; epidemiology, new risk areas and movement controls
| This news story was last substantively updated on 25 September 2007. For later news on this story please see Defra's news story index and/or the Foot and Mouth Disease website. |
Update 11:30 25 September
Following negative laboratory results, the two Temporary Control Zones in the Hampshire area have now lifted.
The Foot and Mouth Disease situation is that there are currently 7 Infected Premises.
Update 21:00 24 September
Positive test results for Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) have now been confirmed at the site where it was decided that cattle should be slaughtered on suspicion earlier today. The site is within the existing Egham Protection Zone in Surrey and this becomes the seventh Infected Premises since 3rd August this year. Minor changes are being made to the Protection Zone (PZ) and Surveillance Zone (SZ) in the area.
It remains essential for animal keepers to practice the highest standards of biosecurity, remain vigilant for disease and report any suspicions immediately. Livestock owners should examine their livestock twice a day.
Update 17:15 24 September
There are currently six Infected Premises. There is one Temporary Control Zone on the Hampshire/West Sussex border and in addition, a further Temporary Control Zone has today been established at a premises in Hampshire. A further slaughter on suspicion for Foot and Mouth Disease is taking place at a premises within the existing Egham Protection Zone.
Defra has also today published the latest Foot and Mouth Disease epidemiology report produced by the National Epidemiology Emergency Group. It concludes that Infected Premises 5 provides a link between the August and September cases with Infected Premises 5 probably being infected by mechanical transmission, either from the Pirbright site or one of the first two Infected Premises in the Elstead area. It also concludes that Infected Premises 3 and 4 were probably infected subsequently.
Based on the epidemiological report and the overall assessment of risk, two FMD risk areas will come into effect from 3.30pm tomorrow (Tuesday 25 September):
Risk Area: consisting of Essex, Kent, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Greater London.
Low Risk Area: The rest of England, Wales and Scotland. In England, farm to farm movements will be allowed also from 3.30pm Tuesday 25 September under stringent conditions and subject to high levels of biosecurity with enforcement by Local Authorities.
For more information, see http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/movements/index.htm
Update 17:45 23 September
A 3km Temporary Control Zone has today been put around a premises in West Sussex, near Petersfield (Hampshire). This is a precautionary measure following a veterinary assessment of clinical signs. Laboratory tests are ongoing.
Update 21:50 21 September
Positive test results for Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) have now been confirmed at the site where it was decided that cattle should be slaughtered on suspicion earlier this evening. The affected animals are within the existing Protection Zone and this now becomes the sixth Infected Premises since 3rd August this year. Minor changes have now been made to the Protection Zone (PZ) and Surveillance Zone (SZ) in the area. The new zones can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth.
Update: 19:05 21 September
The decision has been taken to slaughter cattle on suspicion of Foot and Mouth Disease on a farm in Surrey. This follows a veterinary inspection of the affected cattle on a parcel of land in the existing Protection Zone. There is no timetable for when laboratory results from these premises will be received.
Update: 20:55 20 September
Following negative laboratory results, the Temporary Control Zone in the Solihull area has now lifted.
Update: 14:00 20 September
In line with Defra’s risk-based, staged approach to allow specific animal movements, general licences are now available for limited movements with stringent conditions outside of the Surveillance Zone. These allow:
- Pigs to be moved from breeding units to grower units and to finishing units to address current and anticipated welfare issues;
- Animals susceptible to Foot and Mouth Disease to be moved up to 3 km between premises under the same occupation, or along and across a road, for any reason;
- Cows for calving and cows with their calves to be moved up to 50 km between premises under the same occupation.
All of these movements are subject to following strict biosecurity measures and complying with all of the licence conditions. Pig movements are also subject to certification by a veterinary surgeon. The national movement ban remains in place.
In addition, laboratory results have also today confirmed that the virus found at Infected Premises 5 is the strain 01 BFS 67. This means all five Infected Premises have shared the same strain of virus. A full epidemiological investigation is ongoing.
Update: 15:50 19 September
This afternoon a Temporary Control Zone has been put around one premises in Solihull. 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.
Earlier information
On 12 September UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Debby Reynolds confirmed Foot and Mouth Disease on a holding in Surrey. This brings to five the total number of Infected Premises identified during August and September. It is believed that all premises are affected by the same type 01 BFS67 strain of virus.
Today a postmortem examination of cattle at Infected Premises 5 revealed Foot and Mouth Disease lesions, some more than 10 days old.
Debby Reynolds said:
“It is absolutely vital that farmers remain vigilant and adhere to strict biosecurity measures and licence conditions. This is a disease which can be easily spotted in its early stages. Immediate reporting of any suspicions is critical to the control of this disease. Welfare codes already require that animals are inspected at least once a day. I am now urging that these checks are carried out twice a day given the current circumstances.”
The three premises identified since 12 September lie within a Surveillance Zone drawn around all the parcels of land affected, broadly in the Addlestone and Chertsey area of Surrey. The Surveillance Zone to the west of Guildford, established around the August cases, was revoked on 8 September. However precautionary controls remain for a 5km radius around the source of the outbreak at Pirbright.
Further information on the zones can be found on the Foot and Mouth Disease website.
The countryside continues to remain open, however, some footpaths within the Protection Zone have been closed to minimise risk.
The national movement ban – affecting cattle, sheep, pigs and other ruminants – remains in place in England unless under licence. Movement of animals susceptible to Foot and Mouth Disease to slaughter is permitted, under strict biosecurity conditions, from outside the Surveillance Zone.
Further information on the movement licences section of the Foot and Mouth website.
At this time the decision has been made not to vaccinate because the risk of spread of disease outside of the Surrey area is still considered to be low.
A full epidemiological investigation into the source of the outbreak is ongoing.
Page last modified: 25 September 2007 11:30
Page published: 19 September 2007