USDA Recognizes Surrey County, England Free of FMD

January 7, 2009 — 

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the regulations governing the importation of certain animals, meat, and other animal products into the United States by restoring Surrey County, England, to the list of regions of the world that are considered free of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

The region was removed from the list following the August/September, 2007 outbreak of FMD which originated from the release of infectious virus from a facility located at the site housing the Pirbright Institute for Animal Health and a Merial vaccine research and production facility.

The outbreak resulted in 8 infected premises at 11 sites, all of which were located in Surrey County. All 1578 animals on the infected premises were euthanized and examined for FMD lesions. Diagnostic samples were collected and submitted for laboratory analysis which confirmed FMD in 238 (223 cattle and 15 sheep) animals.

Sources:
Federal Register, December 24, 2008
Defra Report