Second outbreak has same source
Updated on 07 August 2007
A second confirmed outbreak - a second round of culling. The battle against foot and mouth moved up a gear this morning - ahead of a report on the suspected source of the disease this afternoon.
The second confirmed case was at a farm in Surrey. It's close to Woolford's Farm in Elstead - where the first infected cattle were found, and near the laboratories in Pirbright which is the most-likely source of the outbreak.
Both cases are within the original 3km protection zone and 10 kilometre surveillance zone, which were put in place on Friday.
The second case was discovered by official surveillance teams who have been inspecting the condition of animals inside the original protection zone. The government says this is a sign that their security measures are working.
In fact the new infected farm is closer to the Pirbright labs than the first confirmed case of the disease.
The farmer who owns the land lives outside the restricted zone. But he says he's angry that footpaths have been left open to the public.
The local conservative MP picked up that theme. Peter Ainsworth does admit the government has got its response "broadly right" but said there are still concerns.
Yet the government insists its scientific research shows the risk of walkers spreading the disease is negligible.
Farmers, MPs and Ministers are now all waiting for the Health and Safety Executive report - into the source of the outbreak - which will be delivered to the Prime Minsiter in the next hour.
The farmer of the first infected farm said he's had no contact with the Pirbright laboratory. His theory blames the recent flooding and burst sewers.
The Health and Safety Executive has examined all these possibilities - floods, airborne infection or a breach of security at the Merial lab.
But some officials are privately warning the report may not have a conclusive definitive answer to the source of the outbreak at all.
