New case of Foot and Mouth suspected in Surrey - Government Biological Warfare Research site within exclusion zone at Addlestone.

A suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease has been discovered 30 miles away from the last outbreak in Surrey. (DEFRA notice)** Confirmed / National movement ban in place

Debby Reynolds CVO said:

“At this stage we have not identified the strain or origin of this outbreak. The situation remains uncertain, and I urge all animal keepers to be vigilant for signs of disease, practice stringent biosecurity measures, including the movement ban and licensing conditions.”

The government has declared a three-mile exclusion zone around the affected site and a pre-emptive slaughter of cattle has been ordered.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to chair a meeting of the government's emergency committee, Cobra. The site is 6 Kilomteres from Heathrow and includes the Veterinary Laboratories Agency at Weybridge - a site where BIological Warfare research is conducted - anthrax is known to be kept there.

10.30 BST


** The Zone comprises that part of England contained within a circle with a radius of 3 kilometre centred on grid reference TQ 0120570538. (near Egham) The grid reference is a British National Grid Reference. (map PDF!)

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EU lifts all restrictions on British meat BRUSSELS (AFP) — The European Union decided on Tuesday to lift all remaining restrictions on the export of British meat, signalling the all-clear after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Reuters