PESTILENCE WATCH:Second Suspected Foot And Mouth Case

A second suspected case of foot and mouth disease has been
discovered,the Government's chief veterinary officer has
confirmed.Debby Reynolds said around 50 cattle are now being culled inside the protection zone in Surrey,where the disease was found last Thursday.Experts are examining whether floodwater from last month's storms caused the outbreak.Dr Reynolds said high water levels at the infected farm close to the village of Normandy, near Guildford,could have helped spread the virus.She said:"The disease can be waterborne,it can also be through the air or some other direct contact."Tests are still being carried out to confirm whether the nearby Pirbright research site-where the disease was being kept to produce vaccine-was the source.Suspicion fell on the Pirbright lab after it emerged the strain was the same as one used at the facility.The site is shared between the Institute for Animal Health and Merial Animal Health, a pharmaceutical company that makes vaccines.
Merial Animal Health says it is to temporarily restart production of the foot and mouth vaccine in response to a request from Government.Meanwhile,cattle at the Surrey farm originally at the centre of the outbreak began displaying signs of illness five days before authorities were notified,it has been revealed.A Government report to the World Organisation for Animal Health records the "start date"-when illness was first seen in the cattle-as Sunday July 29.Restrictions were not imposed on the premises until late on Thursday,August 2,after the farmer alerted vets.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1278685,00.html
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