Cattle tests positive for foot and mouth

Cattle in southern England have been found to be infected with Foot and Mouth Disease.

A spokesman for Defra said animals on a farm near Guildford in Surrey had tested positive for the disease.

He said: "Following an investigation of suspected vesicular disease by Animal Health on a holding near Guildford in Surrey, laboratory results have this evening indicated that the Foot and Mouth Disease virus is present in samples from cattle on the premises."

"On the basis of initial laboratory results, Debby Reynolds, UK Chief Veterinary Officer, has confirmed Foot and Mouth Disease. In accordance with the legislation, all the cattle on the premises will be culled."

A protection zone, three kilometres in radius, and a surveillance zone of 10 kilometres has been placed around the premises.

A meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency contingencies committee has been held to discuss the outbreak, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown taking part by telephone from his holiday in Dorset.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said that Mr Brown will return from his holiday on Saturday in order to chair another Cobra meeting at the Cabinet Office.

A national movement ban of all ruminants and pigs has been imposed, Defra said.

Last time there was a foot and mouth outbreak in 2001, it swept the nation meaning that millions of pigs, cattle and sheep had to be slaughtered and their carcasses burnt, costing taxpayers billions in compensation.

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