A suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease has been discovered on a farm in southern England, the British government said Wednesday.
The government has set up a control zone around the farm in Egham, Surrey, about 30 miles (50 km) from the scene of the last outbreak in August, and has ordered a pre-emptive slaughter of cattle in the area, said a spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
"Disease has not been confirmed at present. This is only a suspected case," he said. "Test results are expected later but we cannot confirm what time."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown will chair a meeting in the afternoon once the government has received the results, said the spokesman.
Foot-and-mouth was confirmed in a heard of cattle on Woolford Farm in Surrey on Aug. 3 and a second case was confirmed on a farm nearby on Aug. 7.
A report on the previous outbreak found that it was probably caused by leaking drains, heavy rain and building work in the area where the disease was originally discovered.
The new suspected case came a day after the European Commission decided to lift remaining trade restrictions put in place after the last outbreak.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article