Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds has announced that from midnight tonight (Saturday) movements of animals susceptible to Foot and Mouth Disease to slaughter will be permitted, from outside the Surveillance Zone under strictly implemented bio-security conditions.

Laboratory tests have now confirmed that the incidence of foot and mouth disease on the fourth farm is also strain 01 BFS 67. This means all four strains of the foot and mouth disease are identical.

Pigs on a susceptible farm to the two Infected Premises in Surrey are to be slaughtered as a precautionary measure. This follows an inconclusive veterinary inspection of clinical signs in the animals. An update on the laboratory results will be posted as soon as results are made public.

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