Tests have shown that the latest outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Surrey involves the same strain that infected herds last month. Chief vet Debby Reynolds said the strain found at Egham was "generally" the same as the strain from Pirbright research site, 10 miles away. The government is facing criticism that it was too quick to declare Britain foot-and-mouth free last week. The infected cattle in the latest outbreak are on a farm 10 miles from the Pirbright site, and the disease was confirmed only a week after the previous restrictions on cattle movements were lifted. Surrey County Council said the area at the centre of the outbreak is grazing land attached to Milton Park farm, while the animals on the land are owned by Hardwick Park farm. A 10km (6.2 mile) control zone has been set up around the area. Cattle and pigs at another farm nearby were also being slaughtered on suspicion of infection, Defra said. (BBC News)
