UK FMD Outbreak Update ? Oct. 3, 2007

October 3, 2007 — 

UK FMD Outbreak Update - Oct. 3, 2007

• Oct. 3 -- Regionalization Agreement Allows Meat Export to Resume
  An agreement in Brussels will allow meat and meat products to be exported from certain regions of Great Britain to other European Union Member States.
  Effective October 12, meat and meat products from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) susceptible species will be acceptable for export from certain areas of England, Scotland and Wales to other EU countries. This announcement comes in the wake of the confirmation of the eighth FMD infected premises in the Surrey area.
• Oct. 1 -
  • Defra announced the removal of Kent, Essex, East Sussex, Southend, Thurrock, Medway, Brighton and Hove counties from the FMD Risk Area. This decision means that livestock keepers in these areas will be able to move animals from farm to farm. Pigs will also be allowed to move an unlimited distance.
  • Epidemiology reports conclude a low risk of disease spread outside of the current Protection and Surveillance Zones. As a result, vaccination teams are standing down.
• Sept. 30 -
  • FMD was confirmed on a farm near Wraysbury in Surrey. The animals had been culled on suspicion of the disease on Sept. 29th. This is the eighth confirmed infected premises since the outbreak began on Aug. 3rd.
  • Officials will also be euthanizing cattle and other susceptible species on 4 premises in the vicinity of IP8 due to likely exposure to the virus. One of these herds is reportedly across the river from the Queen's dairy herd of Jersey cattle at Windsor.