A Reuters report from the UK says that Britain is testing livestock on two more farms for highly infectious foot and mouth, raising fears an outbreak of the disease may not have been contained.
Animal health experts were investigating a suspected case in Surrey, where hundreds of animals were culled earlier this month after the highly infectious animal disease was found there, officials said, as well as in the neighbouring county of Kent, the Associated Press reported.
“We are setting up a new temporary control zone for foot and mouth disease in Kent,” said a spokeswoman for the agriculture ministry Defra.
“This is not unusual. We are being ultra-cautious in our response to the disease and this new temporary control zone demonstrates the need for relentless vigilance.”
Livestock movements are banned in a control zone. The spokeswoman did not disclose the Kent farm’s exact location.
Kevin Pearce, director of food and farming at the National Farmers’ Union, said samples had been taken from animals at the farm but no cull had been ordered.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean there is a case (of foot and mouth). It means that they have not been able to discount it straight away and as a precautionary measure they will be taking samples and testing for any signs of the virus,” he said.
“It is a temporary control zone.” “It is not a separate case.” “There are no animals being slaughtered.”
A national ban on animal movements has been in place since the confirmation on August 3 of foot and mouth in Surrey, although there are some exceptions such as the movement of animals to slaughter, to milking or for emergency treatment. Exceptions are subject to licenses and strict biosecurity conditions.
Britain’s chief veterinary officer, Debby Reynolds, said she hoped to see an easing of the movement restrictions by the end of this week, but the suspected cases in Kent and Surrey could thwart that hope.
More than 570 animals have been destroyed as a result of the outbreak and the European Union and other countries have banned British meat and dairy exports, with farmers saying the trade curbs are costing them 1.8 million pounds ($NZ4.9 million) a day and are frustrated at the movement ban.
Report by The Mole
