FMD on fifth livestock unit in the UK

Tests on slaughtered cattle proved the presence of the disease, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced. The unit also had sheep and pigs.


Foot and mouth lesions were found when the animals were examined at slaughter. Results of further laboratory tests are awaited, a spokeswoman said.


Last week
In August, two sites in Surrey were found to be infected. After these discoveries, things seemed to calm down for a while. Last week, however, a third farm was discovered to be infected on the very day the FMD precautionary bans would be lifted.


The newly discovered farm is within the existing protection zone near the two infected premises confirmed last week. Minor changes have now been made to the protection zones and surveillance zone in the area. 


Initial tests on pigs culled on a sixth farm in the same area tested negative for foot-and-mouth, reported the BBC.


Related websites:
• BBC
• Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs


For the latest pig news, subscribe here