Farmer: It's not foot and mouth, more likely flu

UK - The farmer at the centre of a new foot and mouth scare has said he is "absolutely sure" the disease is not on his farm in Dorking.
calendar icon 10 August 2007
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Laurence Matthews called in vets to carry out tests on his calves but expects them to confirm they do not have foot and mouth.

Mr Matthews became worried when his animals showed signs of ulcers and contacted the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

A new three-kilometre temporary control zone was set up following an "inconclusive assessment" of symptoms in cattle, Defra said. The protection and surveillance area is separate to the 10km zone already surrounding two farms that suffered infections.

Mr Matthews said some of his land was grazed by the farmer whose cattle were affected in the second outbreak. But he insisted that his own animals have never been inside any of the foot and mouth zones.

Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds said: "This is a developing disease situation.

"The containment and eradication of foot and mouth disease remains our priority. This is why we have moved swiftly to put in place a temporary control zone while we investigate this development.

"At this stage disease has not been confirmed, laboratory results will follow."

The new zone is to the west of Dorking and close to the two confirmed cases of the disease.

Source: SkyNews
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