More cattle are to be culled as foot and mouth fears spread to a third Surrey farm in this fresh outbreak of the disease. It comes as Government officials lifted a ban on transporting animals to slaughterhouses last night. However, the easing of restrictions only applies outside the protection zone in Surrey. This latest farm to come under the spotlight is adjacent to the second farm where the disease was discovered. All animals in other two farms have been culled. Meanwhile, experts are checking whether the foot and mouth outbreak was caused by sabotage linked to a nearby laboratory site.
A Health and Safety Executive preliminary report said there were various potential routes for "accidental or deliberate transfer of material from the site." The report also said: "Release by human movement must also be considered a real possibility. Further investigation of the above issues is required and is being urgently pursued."
Merial Animal Health, which is based at the lab, said it does not believe the disease was spread by people from its centre.
From: BEST OF 2008: Eco-friendy and sustainable shoes