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Farmers’ disbelief as FMD strikes in Surrey Print this story
Email this story to 07/08/2007 : News,NFU Farmers’ disbelief as FMD strikes in Surrey The spectre of Foot and Mouth Disease has returned for East Midlands' farmers as restrictions on livestock movements are introduced to control the spread of the disease.
The total ban on the movement of farm animals including pigs, sheep, cattle and goats, came as the Government announced that there was a case of Foot and Mouth Disease in Surrey.
"Although the outbreak is over a hundred miles away, farmers are dreading the news of further cases," says NFU's regional director, Richard Hezlet. "The news came as a devastating blow to livestock producers in the region, particularly as they have just experienced the wettest summer on record and are facing depressed market prices.
"But the industry has taken up the call to increase its biosecurity and be extra vigilant when inspecting livestock for signs of the disease. The main problems come with the movement standstill and the animal welfare and logistical issues it will create in normal farming operations. Farmers will be facing cash flow problems and we cannot stress too highly the need to maintain the market price for finished animals through this difficult period."
"Farmers have expressed complete disbelief and astonishment at the news that the strain of FMD is the same as that stored and used at both the Institute of Animal Health and Merial Animal Health Ltd," continued Richard Hezlet. "But we will await the outcome of the Health and Safety Executive's enquiry. The main thrust for both Government and the industry is to get ahead of this outbreak and stop it in its tracks."
"The ongoing market problems for beef and sheep producers will be compounded by the uncertain trading conditions during the Foot and Mouth crisis. We can only hope that the crisis is short-lived and that the British consumer will stand behind our farmers by buying British meat and enjoying our wonderful countryside."
Farmers requiring help or advice on any issue to do with the outbreak can contact NFU's call centre on 0870 845 8458.
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A report released tonight by the Health and Safety Executive has confirmed that there is a "strong possibility" that the cause of the recent foot-and-mouth outbreak is contamination, most probably by human movement, from a nearby research facility in Guildford, Surrey, UK.
The field in which the first infected cattle were grazing prior to testing positive for foot-and-mouth disease. 
The labs in Pirbright, where both private firm Merial and the governmental Institute for Animal Health operate, have been subject to ongoing investigations since the discovery of a new foot-and-mouth outbreak on Friday. The strain of the disease had already been identified as an O1 BFS67-like virus, which was isolated in a 1967 outbreak and was being used at the labs for research and the production of vaccines. It is not yet known whether the virus escaped from the Merial or the IAH lab.

Since foot-and-mouth was confirmed in cows at a Surrey farm, more than 200 cattle have been culled as a preventative measure. A protection zone has been set up around the affected areas and rules preventing the movement of livestock have been introduced throughout the country, with the aim of stopping further spread of the contagious disease. Restrictions on the import of English beef have already been imposed.

The last outbreak of foot-and-mouth in the UK, in the spring and summer of 2001, resulted in total losses estimated at £8bn. Seven million animals were slaughtered, and tourism was also badly hit.