British farm infected with foot and mouth disease

British farm infected with foot and mouth disease


www.chinaview.cn 2007-08-04 06:16:22 Print

LONDON, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cattle in southern England have been found to be infected with foot and mouth disease (FMD), the British government said on Friday.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement animals on a farm near Guildford in Surrey had tested positive for the disease.

The statement said on the basis of 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 kilometers radius and a surveillance zone of 10 kilometers has been placed around the premises, and a national wide movement ban of all ruminants and pigs has been imposed.

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 statement said.

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


Editor: Luan Shanglin