By DPA
London : British authorities have enforced a three km perimeter around a third farm in southern England due to suspicions of a possible spread in the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
The latest farm in Surrey County to be affected is outside the surveillance area previously established for the disease.
Chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said Thursday that the action was taken due to “inconclusive” findings from possible symptoms in cattle on the third farm.
“At this stage disease has not been confirmed,” she said. “Laboratory results will follow.”
The outbreak, which led to a halt in British exports of hoofed animals and animal products, is suspected to have started from a veterinary laboratory in Surrey.
“This is a developing disease situation,” Reynolds said. “The containment and eradication of foot-and-mouth disease remains our priority. This is why we have moved swiftly to put in place a temporary control zone while we investigate this development (at the third farm).”