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Scare farm tests negative for foot-and-mouth

11/08/2007

Restrictions that had been in place around a farm in Surrey have been lifted after tests proved that none of the animals on the site had been contaminated with foot-and-mouth disease.

A 3km exclusion zone had been established around Manor Farm in the village of Wotton after some of the livestock showed symptoms, such as runny noses and swollen eyes, that could have indicated the presence of the virus.

The investigation sparked fears that the disease had spread beyond the original surveillance zone which had been set up after two farms near Guildford were discovered to be infected last week.

However farmer Laurence Matthews said that vets had said that they were "99 per cent sure" his animals were free of foot-and-mouth.

It is believed that pneumonia in the herd may have been the cause of the scare.

The relaxation of controls around the site came after a second farm, from within the original surveillance area, also tested negative.

In total 362 cattle, sheep, pigs and goats had already slaughtered in a move to pre-empt a possible positive result.

Chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds told the BBC that the risk of the disease spreading beyond Surrey was now "low", although "relentless vigilance" was still required to contain the outbreak.

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