Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak
25 September 2007
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are the Lead Government Department on Animal Disease and Welfare
On 12 September Foot and Mouth Disease was confirmed at a farm in Surrey.
A single Protection Zone has been put in place around the land of this farm, with a Surveillance Zone of 10 kilometres radius beyond that. Since then, further Infected Places have been confirmed on other local farms and the zones have been amended accordingly. Affected animals have been culled. Laboratory results confirmed that the virus strain is the same as that found in August, namely 01 BFS 67.
Defra have published the latest Foot and Mouth Disease epidemiology report produced by the National Epidemiology Emergency Group. Based on the epidemiological report and the overall assessment of risk, two FMD risk areas will come into effect from 3.30pm on Tuesday 25 September:
Risk Area: consisting of Essex, Kent, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Greater London.
Low Risk Area: The rest of England, Wales and Scotland. In England, farm to farm movements will be allowed also from 3.30pm Tuesday 25 September under stringent conditions and subject to high levels of biosecurity with enforcement by Local Authorities.
It remains essential for animal keepers to practice the highest standards of biosecurity, remain vigilant for disease and report any suspicions immediately. Livestock owners should examine their livestock twice a day.
For more information on the latest situation please visit the Defra: Foot and Mouth Disease - Latest Situation page[External website]
Further Information available on the Defra website
See also our Foot and Mouth Disease - High Profile Risk page.
