This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7009806.stm

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
New foot-and-mouth case suspected New foot-and-mouth case suspected
(about 1 hour later)
Another suspected new case of foot-and-mouth is being investigated at a farm in Hampshire, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) has said.Another suspected new case of foot-and-mouth is being investigated at a farm in Hampshire, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) has said.
It comes as farmers await test results which will show whether two different livestock diseases have spread. It comes as farmers await test results which will show whether foot-and-mouth and bluetongue diseases have spread.
Officials have said a suspected new case of foot-and-mouth on the Hampshire-West Sussex border was a false alarm.Officials have said a suspected new case of foot-and-mouth on the Hampshire-West Sussex border was a false alarm.
The latest suspected case is in the West Tytherly area, near Stockbridge.The latest suspected case is in the West Tytherly area, near Stockbridge.
Animals have also been slaughtered at a farm in Englefield Green, near Egham in Surrey as a precaution, Defra said. Animals have also been slaughtered at a farm in Englefield Green, near Egham in Surrey, as a precaution, Defra said.
A 3km temporary control zone was set up around Slade Farm, near Rogate, on the Hampshire-West Sussex border, on Sunday while Defra investigated another suspected case of foot-and-mouth.
False alarmFalse alarm
A 3km temporary control zone was set up around Slade Farm, near Rogate, on the Hampshire-West Sussex border, on Sunday while Defra investigated another suspected case of foot-and-mouth.
This was declared a false alarm on Monday.This was declared a false alarm on Monday.
The latest cases of foot and mouth in Surrey involved animals which were infected around the same time as the first cases, Chief Vet Debby Reynolds said. The latest cases of foot-and-mouth in Surrey involved animals which were infected around the same time as the first cases, Chief Vet Debby Reynolds said.
FOOT-AND-MOUTH CASES Q&A: Foot-and-mouth disease FOOT-AND-MOUTH CASES Q&A: Foot-and-mouth disease class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7011216.stm">Wait for Bluetongue test results
The epidemiological report revealed the disease could have been spread to the fifth infected farm by the movement of people or vehicles, but not through animal-to-animal transmission or by airborne means.The epidemiological report revealed the disease could have been spread to the fifth infected farm by the movement of people or vehicles, but not through animal-to-animal transmission or by airborne means.
Because the risk of the wider spread of foot-and-mouth was low, from 1530 BST on Tuesday some movement restrictions would be relaxed in England's low-risk areas, she said.Because the risk of the wider spread of foot-and-mouth was low, from 1530 BST on Tuesday some movement restrictions would be relaxed in England's low-risk areas, she said.
But a section of south east England remains a risk area. But a section of south-east England remains a risk area.
Government vets are trying to determine if the UK's first case of bluetongue disease, found in a cow in Suffolk, has passed to other animals on the farm.
Farmers have called for aid packages for those worst affected by the crisis.
The insect-borne bluetongue virus was found in a Highland cow at the Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm, near Ipswich.
Carcass removed
The strain of the disease - serotype eight - is the same as one that has devastated cattle and sheep herds across northern Europe.
The infected cow's carcass has been removed from the farm and further tests are now being carried out on other livestock on the premises to see if they have been affected by the disease.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it would not be classed as an outbreak unless other cases were confirmed.
LOCATION OF BLUETONGUE CASE The rise of bluetongue
A 20km (12 mile) control zone will be placed around the farm if bluetongue appears to have infected other animals and insects.
Defra said tests were ongoing and it was unlikely any results would be announced on Monday.
Ben Woolf, a neighbouring farmer, said the discovery of bluetongue disease was worrying.
"In the short term, foot-and-mouth is clearly a more devastating disease because it wipes out whole herds," he said.
"It's the unknown with bluetongue. How long is it going to last? What's the long-term economic impact going to be - that's the real concern."
Bluetongue affects sheep particularly badly
Farming leaders have called for the government to consider aid packages for those facing bankruptcy in the wake of movement restrictions brought in because of foot-and-mouth.Farming leaders have called for the government to consider aid packages for those facing bankruptcy in the wake of movement restrictions brought in because of foot-and-mouth.
They say the restrictions mean farmers cannot buy and sell animals at a crucial time of year.They say the restrictions mean farmers cannot buy and sell animals at a crucial time of year.
"Financial Armageddon"
NFU president Peter Kendall has warned that farmers are facing "financial Armageddon" as a result of the crisis.NFU president Peter Kendall has warned that farmers are facing "financial Armageddon" as a result of the crisis.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said he understood the arrival of bluetongue was "unwelcome news" for farmers at a difficult time.
Spread north
Bluetongue disease is transmitted by the Culicoides imicola midge. It is passed from animal to midge, and from midge to animal, but is not transmitted from animal to animal.
The virus, which affects cattle, sheep, goats and deer, has long blighted Africa, but in recent years has begun to spread northwards into Europe.
There have been nearly 3,000 cases of bluetongue in Northern Europe - including the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany - since July, which had fuelled fears of its arrival in the UK.
Some scientists believe that climate change could be behind its spread, as warmer temperatures have seen the biting insects gradually move north.
Deputy chief veterinary officer Fred Landeg said that if the disease took hold in Britain, a frosty winter could help wipe out the midge population.
But the president of the British Veterinary Association, David Catlow, said Britain may have to "learn to live" with bluetongue by restricting movements of infected animals until a vaccine is made available.
Animals with the disease experience discomfort, with flu-like symptoms, and swelling and haemorrhaging in and around the mouth and nose. They can also go lame and have difficulty eating.
If confirmed, the latest case of foot-and-mouth would become the fifth since the disease was confirmed on a farm near Egham, Surrey, on 12 September and the seventh in southern England since the beginning of August.If confirmed, the latest case of foot-and-mouth would become the fifth since the disease was confirmed on a farm near Egham, Surrey, on 12 September and the seventh in southern England since the beginning of August.
Some 1,800 animals have so far been slaughtered but some of the movement restrictions outside the current surveillance zone have been lifted.Some 1,800 animals have so far been slaughtered but some of the movement restrictions outside the current surveillance zone have been lifted.
An earlier outbreak in August, which affected two premises, was blamed on the virus escaping from leaking pipes at the nearby Pirbright laboratory site.An earlier outbreak in August, which affected two premises, was blamed on the virus escaping from leaking pipes at the nearby Pirbright laboratory site.
Government chief vet Debby Reynolds said farmers should remain vigilant for either bluetongue or the foot-and-mouth virus.Government chief vet Debby Reynolds said farmers should remain vigilant for either bluetongue or the foot-and-mouth virus.