New foot and mouth outbreak 'Deeply alarming'

Commenting on the confirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth near Egham in Surrey, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defra Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

"This is a deeply alarming development. It hits British livestock farmers at an even worse moment than before. September is critical as lambs are going to slaughter for home and export markets.

"It is crucial to quickly identify whether this strain of the virus was being worked on at Pirbright or matches the previous outbreak, and whether biosecurity at the labs has failed again. If so, work should stop until there are fundamental improvements at the site.

"A nationwide ban on livestock movement is essential until we have the measure of the problem, but if Pirbright is the source of the new outbreak then Defra should look at early relaxation of the movement ban outside the areas at risk.

"Defra should also ensure this time that footpaths near the outbreak are closed immediately."