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Second disease outbreak confirmed Second disease outbreak confirmed
(about 1 hour later)
A second case of foot-and-mouth has been confirmed at a farm in Surrey.A second case of foot-and-mouth has been confirmed at a farm in Surrey.
Up to 100 cows were culled at the farm in the 3km protection zone set up around the site of the first outbreak. Defra said 102 cows were culled at the farm in the 3km protection zone set up around the site of the first outbreak.
Meanwhile, Roger Pride, owner of the first herd to be culled, said in a statement he was shocked and devastated by the outbreak.Meanwhile, Roger Pride, owner of the first herd to be culled, said in a statement he was shocked and devastated by the outbreak.
"It feels as if my whole world has been turned upside down," he said. The findings of a probe into the source of the outbreak at his farm are due later."It feels as if my whole world has been turned upside down," he said. The findings of a probe into the source of the outbreak at his farm are due later.
In the statement read out at a National Farmers' Union press conference, Mr Pride said he noticed his cattle were off-colour and drooling last Thursday and called his vet - who advised him to contact Defra.
'Beyond our control''Beyond our control'
In the statement read out at a National Farmers' Union press conference, Mr Pride said he first realised his cattle were off-colour and drooling last Thursday. By the following evening, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had confirmed they had tested positively for foot-and-mouth, he said.
The theory that the sewer which overflows into part of the field where the 38 cattle were grazing could be the cause is an obvious possibility Farmer Roger Pride, who lost his herd By the following evening, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had confirmed they had tested positively for foot-and-mouth, he said. He said the farm had "always practised the highest standards of biosecurity" and no animals had been moved on or off the farm since early June.
He went on: "Whatever the cause of the outbreak, it is obvious that we've been the victims of circumstances far beyond our control." He said he believed it was possible a sewer which overflowed into part of the field may have been the cause.
He said it was possible a sewer which overflowed into part of the field may have been the cause. HOW FOOT-AND-MOUTH SPREADS Direct contact, from animal to animalFluid from an infected animal's blister; saliva, milk or dung also pass on the diseaseAnimals eating infected feedVirus can be spread by people, vehicles or roads, if not disinfected Airborne spread of disease also possibleAnimals can begin spreading virus before visible signs of disease emergeSource: Defra
No-one from the farm had had any contact with the Pirbright facility, which is being investigated as a possible source, he added. "Whatever the cause of the outbreak, it is obvious that we've been the victims of circumstances far beyond our control," he said.
'Absolutely devastated' On Tuesday, a Defra spokesman said laboratory results showed foot-and-mouth at the second site, not far from the first outbreak at Wolford farm, near Guildford.
On Tuesday, a Defra spokesman said laboratory results showed foot-and-mouth at the second site, not far from the first infected location, Wolford farm, near Guildford. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said vets first spotted signs of foot-and-mouth on the second farm on Monday, and a swift decision was taken to cull the animals.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told BBC's Breakfast the speed with which the second outbreak was identified showed measures to control the disease were working.
He said vets first spotted signs of foot-and-mouth in the animals on the farm on Monday, and a swift decision was taken to cull them.
Most farmers are very, very scared and all activity on farms has almost come to a standstill Farmer Laurence Matthews
He urged farmers to continue to examine their stock.He urged farmers to continue to examine their stock.
A 3km (1.8 mile) protection zone and a surveillance zone with a minimum radius of 10km (6.2 miles) is in place around the first site. A 3km (1.8 mile) protection zone and a surveillance zone with a minimum radius of 10km (6.2 miles) is in place around the first site - an announcement is expected on whether it may be expanded later.
An announcement is expected later on how these zones may be affected by the second case. 'Absolutely devastated'
The source of the second outbreak is unknown but virologist Professor Ian Jones said it was likely to have come from the original contamination source, not a secondary infection from Wolford farm.The source of the second outbreak is unknown but virologist Professor Ian Jones said it was likely to have come from the original contamination source, not a secondary infection from Wolford farm.
Farmer Laurence Matthews, who owns the land where the second outbreak struck, said the farmer whose cattle were culled, and his family, were "absolutely devastated".Farmer Laurence Matthews, who owns the land where the second outbreak struck, said the farmer whose cattle were culled, and his family, were "absolutely devastated".
Enlarge Map Enlarge Map
"We were starting to think that maybe this virus had been contained... now with this second outbreak this has set us back again," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."We were starting to think that maybe this virus had been contained... now with this second outbreak this has set us back again," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"Most farmers... are very, very scared and all activity on farms has almost come to a standstill.""Most farmers... are very, very scared and all activity on farms has almost come to a standstill."
He said the farmers' plight had been worsened by a lack of information, the failure to close all public footpaths in the protection zone and the inability to transport carcases from the farm to an incinerator because of a ban on movement. He criticised the failure to close all public footpaths in the protection zone and the fact that the ban on movement meant carcasses could not be transported to an incinerator.
Mr Benn said the issue of footpath closures would be investigated immediately.Mr Benn said the issue of footpath closures would be investigated immediately.
A Defra spokesman said footpaths on contaminated premises had been closed off, but those within the protection zone were still open and as yet there were no plans to close them. A Defra spokesman said footpaths on contaminated premises had been closed off, but there were no plans as yet to close those within the protection zone.
He added that people who lived within the protection zone were allowed to move in and out of the zone as long as they observed all the biosecurity measures.
NFU President Peter Kendall said the second outbreak was bad news but not completely unexpected.
He said efforts were under way to improve communication with farmers.
Flood theoryFlood theory
Meanwhile, the findings of the investigation into the cause of the first outbreak are also expected. Meanwhile, the findings of the Health and Safety investigation into the source of the first outbreak are also expected.
The Health and Safety Executive investigation centres on two neighbouring laboratories in the village of Pirbright - about four miles from Wolford farm. The strain of the virus found on Wolford farm was being used at both private vaccine manufacturer Merial and the government-funded Institute for Animal Health, both based on the Pirbright complex, four miles away.
The strain of the virus found on the farm was being used at both private vaccine manufacturer Merial and the government-funded Institute for Animal Health. FOOT-AND-MOUTH IN NUMBERS 97 cattle were culled from the first outbreak - 64 from infected premises, 33 from neighbouring premises. 102 were culled in the second outbreak111,000 farms across UK affected by movement banThat includes 10m cattle, 23m sheep and 5m pigs class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7055&edition=1&ttl=20070803222614">Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/northern_ireland/6933911.stm">Outbreak 'nipped in bud' class="" href="/1/hi/england/surrey/6933668.stm">Lives on hold class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/6934257.stm">Ban 'could be lifted'
FOOT-AND-MOUTH IN NUMBERS As a result of first outbreak, 97 cattle culled - 64 from infected premises, 33 from neighbouring premises. As a result of second outbreak, between 50-100 cattle culled111,000 farms across UK affected by movement banThat includes 10m cattle, 23m sheep and 5m pigs Send us your comments Outbreak 'nipped in bud' Lives on hold Ban 'could be lifted'
Chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds has said it was possible recent floods may have contributed to an accidental release of the virus from one of the labs.Chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds has said it was possible recent floods may have contributed to an accidental release of the virus from one of the labs.
It is thought contaminated water may have been incorrectly disposed of down a drain which subsequently overflowed during heavy rain and carried the contaminated water on to farmland. It is thought contaminated water may have been incorrectly disposed of down a drain which then overflowed during heavy rain and carried the contaminated water on to farmland.
Ms Reynolds said no decision had been made on vaccines for livestock, but 300,000 doses had been ordered from Merial. The government says no decision has been taken on whether to vaccinate livestock, but 300,000 doses have been ordered from Merial - to ensure it is ready if needed.
Mr Benn said: "In order to consider [vaccination] as an option, we've got to have the vaccine ready. The National Farmers' Union, which has opposed the use of vaccination in the past, said the government should have the capability to use it "as an option", depending on the "exact circumstances".
"It's the best place we can go if we take the decision that we want to do it." NFU head of communications Anthony Gibson praised the response so far, saying: "I think that everything that could have been done, has been done. I think the lessons, so far, have been learned from what went wrong in the 2001 outbreak."
Both Merial and the institute have denied any breach in biosecurity procedures, which are now being independently reviewed. Security breach denied
Ban formalised Both Merial and the institute have denied any breach in bio-security procedures, which are now being independently reviewed.
The government has banned the movement of all livestock in England, Scotland and Wales, while the European Commission has formalised a ban on British exports of meat, milk products and live animals. The government has banned the movement of all livestock across Britain, while the European Commission has formalised a ban on British exports of meat, milk products and live animals.
Northern Ireland, which has imposed a ban on all cattle, sheep and pigs from Britain, has been excluded.Northern Ireland, which has imposed a ban on all cattle, sheep and pigs from Britain, has been excluded.
Trading standards officers in Lincolnshire confirmed on Monday they were investigating two cases of alleged illegal movement of livestock.Trading standards officers in Lincolnshire confirmed on Monday they were investigating two cases of alleged illegal movement of livestock.
The NFU has estimated the outbreak could cost "tens of millions of pounds", affecting not just farmers but related industries, such as abattoirs and meat packaging plants.The NFU has estimated the outbreak could cost "tens of millions of pounds", affecting not just farmers but related industries, such as abattoirs and meat packaging plants.
Defra has set up a helpline in response to the latest outbreak on 08459 335577.Defra has set up a helpline in response to the latest outbreak on 08459 335577.