On the basis of the initial laboratory results Debby Reynolds, UK Chief Veterinary Officer confirmed Foot and Mouth Disease. In accordance with the legislation and contingency planning arrangements all the cattle on the premises would be culled. A Protection Zone of three kilometres radius and a Surveillance Zone of 10 kilometres has been placed around the premises, and a GB wide national movement ban of all ruminants and pigs has been imposed.
On Saturday evening 4 August Defra confirmed that the FMD strain found in Surrey is not one currently known to be recently found in animals. It is most similar to strains used in international diagnostic laboratories and in vaccine production, including at the Pirbright site shared by the Institute of Animal Health (IAH) and Merial Animal Health Ltd, a pharmaceutical company. The present indications are that this strain is a 01 BFS67 – like virus, isolated in the 1967 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in Great Britain. In response to the new information Debby Reynolds, Chief Veterinary Officer has instructed that a new single Protection Zone be created encompassing both the infected farm premises and the Pirbright site, with a single 10km radius Surveillance Zone.
Immediate action is being taken with an investigation led by the Health and Safety Executive at the Institute for Animal Health and Merial. In addition an urgent independent review into biosecurity arrangements at both sites has been commissioned led by Professor Brian Spratt of Imperial University. It will report to Hilary Benn and Debby Reynolds.
On Sunday 5 August an additional Declaration was issued, making a new Protection Zone and extending the Surveillance Zone. Full details were set out in a news release.
For the latest information, please see Defra's public website
