Foot and mouth disease detected in UK By D'ARCY DORAN, Associated Press Writer

Foot and mouth disease detected in UK By D'ARCY DORAN, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 12 minutes ago



LONDON - Cattle on a southern England farm have been infected with foot-and-mouth disease, prompting a nationwide ban on shipping hooved livestock, British authorities said Friday.

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The report drew reminders of the last outbreak of the disease in Britain in 2001, which lead to the slaughter of millions of animals.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired a meeting of the government's emergency committee Friday night to discuss the development, according to a spokeswoman for the leader.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy, said the government's top priority is to prevent the spread of the disease.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, or DEFRA, said animals on a farm near Guildford in Surrey had tested positive for the disease. It did not immediately say how many animals were affected.

All cattle on the farm must be slaughtered, a department spokesman said on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.

A 2-mile radius protection zone and a surveillance zone of 6 miles had been placed around the premises. A national movement ban of all hooved animals, including pigs, was also been imposed, DEFRA said.

The 2001 outbreak started with a pig herd in Northumberland and spread to cows and sheep. The disease was also reported in France, Ireland and the Netherlands. It does not affect humans.

Prior to 2001, a foot-and-mouth disease epidemic last struck Britain in 1967.