Foot and Mouth Disease in Surrey; Bluetongue in South East England
| This news story was last substantively updated on 17 October 2007. For later news on this story please see Defra's news story index and/or our Bluetongue website pages. |
Update 15:35 17 October
Defra has today confirmed that Bluetongue has been found on two premises, one near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and one near Ashford, Kent. These cases are within the current Bluetongue Protection Zone.
In line with the UK Bluetongue Control Strategy and EU legislation, Control Zones have been put in place around these two new cases, while investigations are undertaken to determine the disease situation. The existing Protection Zone has also been extended accordingly.
Update 10:40 17 October
Defra confirmed today that Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) movement restrictions have now been lifted in most parts of the country.
Following extensive surveillance work, veterinary risk assessment and no further cases of FMD being discovered, all FMD movement restrictions outside of FMD Risk Area have now lifted. The Protection Zone around the Infected Premises in the Surrey area has also been lifted following the completion of surveillance work and will now become part of the wider Surveillance Zone.
The FMD Surveillance Zone and FMD Risk Area remain in place and movement restrictions continue to apply in these areas. The earliest date the Surveillance Zone can lift is 5 November.
Bluetongue movement controls remain firmly in place in England.
Update 9:30 17 October
Defra has today announced a minor amendment to the existing Bluetongue Control Zone, following confirmation of a further case of Bluetongue in Essex.
Update 14:00 16 October
The Temporary Control Zone put in place yesterday in East Sussex is being lifted today following preliminary negative laboratory results and further clinical inspection.
Update 12:00 15 October
A 3 km Foot and Mouth Disease Temporary Control Zone has today been put in place around a premises near Rye in East Sussex.
This is a precautionary measure following a veterinary assessment of suspect signs of disease in sheep. Laboratory tests are in progress and there is no timetable for receiving results.
Update 15:00 12 October
Markets within the Bluetongue Control and Protection Zones will be permitted from midnight Sunday 14 October. The movement of susceptible animals from within the Control and Protection Zones to approved slaughterhouses outside the Bluetongue Zones will also be permitted from this time. Conditions apply and markets within the FMD Risk Area will remain closed.
From Monday, slaughterhouses outside the Bluetongue Zones will be able to apply to the Meat Hygiene Service to be approved to take susceptible animals for slaughter from within the Control and Protection Zones, provided they can fulfil specified criteria. Movements of susceptible animals to approved slaughterhouses will also be subject to certain conditions, to minimise the risk of disease spread. These changes, as with all aspects of disease control measures, have been discussed and developed with the Core Group of industry stakeholders.
Defra also announced:
- the intention to lift the Foot and Mouth Protection Zone in Surrey on Wednesday 17th October provided there is no change to the disease situation. This decision has been taken following extensive surveillance in the area, and is in line with EU rules.
- the intention to lift all movement restrictions in England, outside of the FMD Risk Area, to coincide with the lifting of the Protection Zone.
The Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Fred Landeg, also confirmed that the Surveillance Zone will remain in place until at least November 5, to allow for comprehensive surveillance to be completed. The Foot and Mouth Risk Area will also remain, but the size of this area and the movement restrictions currently imposed are subject to continual review. These discussions will bear in mind the importance of completing the necessary surveillance in the area with the aim of full disease-freedom being achieved as soon as possible.
Update 9:00 11 October
Defra yesterday announced that the existing Bluetongue Control and Protection Zones are being extended following confirmation of further cases of Bluetongue in Essex.
The UK Bluetongue Control Strategy and EU legislation require that the zones to be extended due to the proximity of these cases to the boundary of the existing Control Zone.
Update 19:10 8 October
Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn today announced a package of support, worth £12.5 million, for farmers in England affected by the current movement restrictions in place to control Foot and Mouth Disease, together with measures to relieve the burden of red tape on farmers affected.
For further information see:
Update 16.50 5 October
Animal Health, an executive agency of Defra, has launched a recorded information line for the farming community to use in disease outbreaks.
The information line allows farmers, livestock keepers, vets and other stakeholders to stay up-to-date with important news and information, initially about Foot and Mouth Disease and Bluetongue, from the end of a phone.
This new communication channel allows those without regular access to the internet to listen to the latest news by simply dialling 0844 884 4600 instead. The information line will be updated regularly. Calling in costs 5p a minute (4.2p plus VAT).
Update 12.50 5 October
Defra today confirmed that, as of 5.00pm on 4 October, there are a total of 25 premises infected with Bluetongue in the UK. These are all within the Bluetongue Control Zone. These cases follow reporting of disease by farmers, and further disease surveillance work around the first infected premises.
Defra has today published a further report on ongoing epidemiological work into the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak.
At day 63 of the FMD outbreak there are currently 8 confirmed Infected Premises. Evidence continues to indicate that this outbreak is likely to be confined to a relatively small area of the country and not become geographically extensive and that the risk of spread outside of the Foot and Mouth Disease risk area remains very low.
Update 11.45 4 October
Markets for cattle and sheep and animals susceptible to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) can resume today in the FMD Low Risk Area, outside of the Bluetongue Protection and Control Zones.
All markets must be licensed to operate under the Animal Gatherings Order which contains strict conditions that must be observed. Due to FMD, additional conditions also apply.
See the movements and licences section of this website for details.
In addition, multiple pick ups and drop offs at premises with approved facilities are also allowed from today under specific conditions. This applies only within the FMD Low Risk Area and the Bluetongue Protection and Control Zones. Strict conditions apply however an exception to the 20 day standstill rule is being allowed for breeding rams which may be brought on to premises that has an approved isolation unit.
Update 14.45 3 October
Changes to export rules have been agreed in Brussels today which will allow meat and meat products to be exported from certain areas of England, Scotland and Wales to other EU Member States.
Detailed discussions have taken place in Brussels to agree a regionalised approach which frees up trade from some parts of Great Britain. This applies to meat and meat products from Foot and Mouth Disease susceptible species to other EU Member States.
These changes are expected to come into effect on 12 October, subject to there being no change to the current disease situation. We will be publishing detailed guidance on what this means for exporters shortly, and the conditions that will apply. This is expected to include a requirement for veterinary certification about the origin of the meat .
Update 10.30 3 October
The Temporary Control Zone placed around a premises near Haywards Heath on the border of East and West Sussex on 1 October has today been lifted following negative laboratory results for Foot and Mouth Disease and further clinical examination of the animals.
Movement controls
Following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Surrey in August/September, and confirmation of Bluetongue in East Anglia, we have established a number of zones where controls on the movements of affected animals apply.
Foot and Mouth controls
Controls for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) are based on two FMD risk areas, together with the existing FMD Protection and Surveillance Zones in Surrey. See full map - on the Foot and Mouth pages - for details.
FMD Risk Area: includes West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Greater London, Buckinghamshire
FMD Low Risk Area: England (except for the areas mentioned above), Wales and Scotland.
Protection and Surveillance Zones: FMD Protection and Surveillance Zones remain in place in Surrey (in the Egham area).
Bluetongue controls
Controls for Bluetongue are based on a Bluetongue Control Zone around the area in East Anglia where Bluetongue cases have been identified to date. This covers Suffolk, parts of Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.
In addition, a Bluetongue Protection Zone has been established some 150km around the infected premises, covering parts of counties from Lincolnshire to Sussex.
Are you affected?
Those affected should carefully check the detailed information (and maps) available on the Defra website for information about which controls apply to their location and circumstances – see:
Foot and Mouth Disease background
Up to 30 September a total of eight Infected Premises had been confirmed in Surrey. Foot and Mouth disease affects cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and other ruminants. It is not a direct public health risk.
The countryside remains open, although footpaths within the Protection Zone have been closed.
The latest epidemiology report concludes that the risk of disease spread outside the affected area in Surrey is very low but concludes that the future course of the outbreak is dependent on the surveillance for infection and disease by both animal keepers and Animal Health patrols.
Cattle owners should therefore check their animals twice daily and report any suspicions of disease to their local Animal Health Office immediately. Intensive surveillance by Animal Health staff is underway on a precautionary basis in the affected area.
Bluetongue background
On 28 September Defra confirmed that Bluetongue disease is circulating in East Anglia. Investigations led to the conclusion that the virus is circulating between the local animal and midge population.
Bluetongue infects cattle, sheep, goats, deer and camelids (for example, llamas, alpacas), but not pigs. Bluetongue does not affect humans. It is caused by a virus that is transmitted by midges. It can be spread by the movement of infected midges that go on to bite susceptible animals in a new area, or by movements of infected animals that are subsequently bitten by midges. Animals infected with Bluetongue will not generally be compulsorily slaughtered from now on.
Bluetongue has not been seen in the UK before. Our tests confirm that it is the same strain as the one circulating in parts of northern Europe since August 2006.
As with Foot and Mouth Disease, owners of susceptible animals are urged to check their animals regularly for symptoms and report any suspicions of disease to their local Animal Health Office immediately.
Further information
Page modified: 17 October 2007 at 15:35
Page published: 2 October 2007