September 25, 2007

 

UK officials confirm negative foot-and-mouth tests at a farm

 

 

Livestock at a farm in southern England have tested negative for foot-and-mouth, environment officials said Monday (September 25), but animals at a new site were being tested for the disease.

 

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said initial tests indicated animals that were slaughtered on a farm near Petersfield, about 55 miles southwest of London, didn't have the highly infectious disease.

 

However, new tests for foot-and-mouth were taking place at another site in the same county, Hampshire. A control zone was established around the premises, the department said.

 

Animals were also being slaughtered as a precaution at a site within the existing control zone in the county of Surrey.

 

Despite the latest negative test, farmers are apprehensive the disease may have spread from Surrey, south of London, where six cases have been confirmed.

 

Four cases of foot-and-mouth have been confirmed in Surrey this month, following two in August. An inquiry said the August outbreak spread from a nearby veterinary laboratory site. Government vets have confirmed that the strain of the disease in this month's cases was the same, and said all the animals appeared to have been infected at the same time.

 

Foot-and-mouth disease affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cows, sheep, pigs and goats. It does not infect humans, but its appearance on farms can have a major economic impact.

 

The latest outbreak has been a blow to British farmers. Hundreds of animals have been slaughtered and movement of animals has been restricted at one of the busiest times of the year for livestock sales.

 

The foot-and-mouth worries have been compounded by the UK's first case of bluetongue, which affects cows, sheep and other ruminant animals, and can be fatal. Bluetongue doesn't affect humans.