Following extensive surveillance work, and there having been no further cases of FMD discovered, Defra has lifted the FMD Restricted Zone on Monday 19 November. From this date, 3 FMD Areas were set up. For full information please click on the link below.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/default.htm

The strain of the disease which infected farms was isolated originally in the 1967 outbreak. The strain is believed to have been used at the local Pirbright laboratory for research into a vaccination.

The Institute of Animal Health 's Pirbright Facility and animal health company Merial have been implicated as the potential source of the original outbreak. The Health and Safety Executives initial investigations into potential breaches at the Pirbright site indicate that it is a real possibility the disease was released by human movements or from a faulty drain.

Defra's latest FMD Epidemiology report produced by the National Epidemiology Emergency Group concludes that infected premises 5 (IP5) provides a link between the August and September cases with IP5 probably being infected by mechanical transmission, either from the Pirbright site or one of the first two Infected Premises in the Elstead area. It also concludes that IPs 3 and 4 were probably infected subsequently.

It is essential all farms adopt strict biosecurity practises and familiarise themselves with the symptoms of the disease. Please download the Foot and Mouth fact sheets from the links below.

How to spot foot and mouth disease
Preventing the introduction and spread of foot and mouth disease
What will happen when foot and mouth disease is suspected or confirmed?

For the latest information on the outbreak, please click on the link below:

www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/