Foot and Mouth Disease Confirmed in Surrey in the UK

DEFRA (The Department for Environment, Foods and Rural Affairs) FOLLOWING has confirmed a fresh outbreak of foot and mouth disease and has issued the following statement on its website. The outbreak is in Surrey around Flexford west of Guildford.


There is a surveillance zone of 10km around the farm and a national movement ban on all cattle, pigs and sheep.

A Declaration of a Protection Zone, Surveillance Zone, and Restricted Zone, following the confirmation of foot and mouth disease on a farm in Surrey. In addition to the Protection and Surveillance Zones, the Restricted Zone implements a ban on the movement of susceptible animals (among other measures) and covers the whole of England (similar measures are in force in Scotland and Wales).

"Following an investigation of suspected vesicular disease by Animal Health on a holding near Guildford in Surrey, laboratory results have this evening indicated that the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) virus is present in samples from cattle on the premises.

"On the basis of the initial laboratory results Debby Reynolds, UK Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed Foot and Mouth Disease.

"In accordance with the legislation and contingency planning arrangements all the cattle on the premises will be culled.

"A Protection Zone of three kilometres radius and a Surveillance Zone of 10 kilometres has been placed around the premises, and a GB wide national movement ban of all ruminants and pigs has been imposed.

"Nationally no animal movements are allowed except under licence, controls are in place on movement of animal carcasses, animal gatherings, shearing and dipping are restricted, and all farms must increase levels of biosecurity.

"In both 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 FMD virus.

"The farm itself has been under restrictions since late on Thursday evening when symptoms were reported to the local Animal Health office.

"A 1km temporary restriction zone was placed around the premises earlier today whilst investigations and testing were completed, in line with domestic and EU legislation.

"The European Commission has been informed."

All the animals on the farm will be culled.

The last outbreak was only 6 years ago in 2001. People are saying that it must be tackled differently this time, with no massive culling on surrounding farms.

foot and mouth disease
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