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Animal health experts are investigating more possible outbreaks of foot and mouth disease after infected cattle were discovered on a Surrey farm. UK Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds today said a “small number” of further potential cases had been reported in the wake of the discovery on the farm near Guildford.

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Animal health experts are investigating more possible outbreaks of foot and mouth disease after infected cattle were discovered on a Surrey farm.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds today said a “small number” of further potential cases had been reported in the wake of the discovery on the farm near Guildford.

Some of those cases had already been found negative, she said, but investigations were continuing into the remaining cases.

She said there was limited evidence at the moment to identify the source of the Surrey outbreak, but it was “a big blow for it to be back in UK territory”.

Her comments came as Gordon Brown pledged to do everything in his power to prevent the outbreak of foot and mouth disease spreading.

Speaking after this morning’s 50-minute meeting of Cobra, the government’s civil emergencies committee, the Prime Minister promised that experts would work “night and day” to eradicate the source of the infection.

“I want to do everything in our power immediately to get to the scientific evidence, to look at the source of what has happened, to set up a number of inquiries so that we can actually move very quickly, I mean within hours and days, what has actually happened, and then to eradicate this disease in Britain,” he said.

“We will be doing night and day everything in our power to make sure that what happens quickly and happens decisively in a way that can reassure people that everything is being done.”

A cull of 60 cattle was carried out this afternoon at the Surrey farm where the virulent disease was discovered on Thursday night.

In accordance with legislation, all cattle on the premises must be culled and incinerated, Dr Reynolds said.

Dr Reynolds confirmed the outbreak after samples were taken from the farm.

She said they were examining all possible sources of the virus including illegal animal movements, undisclosed infection in legal movements, laboratories and deliberate release.

She added that an assessment of the bio-security at the Institute for Animal Health at Pirbright, where research into foot and mouth is conducted, was under way.

It was too early to tell where the disease may have come from, she said.

“All possible sources are being investigated. It’s important not to rule out any source in our inquiries.”

Dr Reynolds urged farmers: “Examine your animals and if there’s anything wrong with them which is likely to be foot and mouth disease you must immediately report it to Animal Health.”

Scientific analysis of the disease may be available later today, depending on the strain of the virus involved.

A 3-kilometre (2-mile) exclusion zone has been established around the farm, which is close to the village of Wanborough, near Guildford, while scientists carry out tests.

There is also a 10km surveillance zone in place where nearby animals are being monitored.

Meanwhile, the European Union confirmed it has imposed a ban on exports of all British livestock until the situation becomes clearer.

Mindful of criticism that ministers reacted too slowly during the last outbreak of foot and mouth, in 2001, Mr Brown broke off his holiday in Dorset last night to attend to the crisis.

Environment secretary Hilary Benn also flew back from a holiday in Italy to attend this morning’s meeting.

The last outbreak of foot and mouth, in 2001, saw 6.5 million animals being culled across Britain.

A spokesman for David Cameron, the Tory leader, confirmed he has also postponed his family holiday in France while the effects of the outbreak become clearer.

The National Farmers Union has confirmed that it is in detailed discussions with Defra over the issue.

Professor Sir Brian Follett, who chaired the Infectious Diseases in Livestock Inquiry following the 2001 outbreak, said the vaccination of cattle should be considered if the disease turned out to be an epidemic.

Many farms and other rural businesses were ruined as a result of the 2001 epidemic. Some experts argued that vaccination would have been better than large-scale culling.

Tim Bonner, a spokesman for the Countryside Alliance, said: “Farmers around the country will be hoping and praying that this is an isolated incident and that the disease is not already widespread.

“We hope and pray that the lessons from last time have been learned.

“The handling of the crisis in 2001 was an unmitigated disaster.”

Peter Ainsworth, the shadow secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs, whose East Surrey constituency is not far from the site of the outbreak, said: “The last thing we need is a repeat of the horrific images that blazed across the world in 2001.”

Michael More-Molyneux, of 1400-acre Loseley Farm, which is just five miles from the infected farm, said he was hopeful there would not be a repeat of the devastation of 2001.

He said: “Luckily for us, the wind is going from north to south so it is not coming in our direction. “The other thing is that hopefully they have got on top of it in time. They were much quicker off the mark than last time round.

“The first time there was a lot of stock moving across the country. This time there has been a lot less movement.”

But he admitted he was concerned about his cattle.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed but there is really nothing we can do about it except wait.”telegraph

, Voice of a Nation

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