September 13, 2007

UK confirms new foot-and-mouth-disease outbreak

British authorities on Wednesday (September 12) confirmed a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on a farm in Surrey and have constrained movement of cattle, sheep and pigs.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds said in a statement that cattle on the affected area have been culled as well as the zone being cordoned. Parallel movement ban of animals were also made by Scottish and Welsh authorities.

The news comes just days after Reynolds had declared the outbreak first discovered in August to be over and had lifted earlier surveillance zones.

Secretary of State for the Environment Hilary Benn said though the farming industry cannot afford to have another FMD outbreak, authorities have already established a Protection Zone and closed footpaths in the area to immediately contain and eradicate the latest disease outburst.