The 3km Protection Zone surrounds the village of Wanborough, between Guildford and Aldershot. The exact identity of the farm has not yet been revealed but the cattle have now all been slaughtered, according ot reports.

This is clearly a very decisive action by DEFRA, this time around. It is now a matter of waiting to see whether the outbreak had spread, prior to detection. As the incubation period is about 7 days, that is the MINIMUM time we must wait before breathing a sigh of relief, if no reports of further cases come in. Traditionally, the spread of infection appears to have been faster in cold, winter weather.

During the last outbreak, nearly 7 million animals were destroyed and estimated costs reached £8.5 billion. That episode was not only tragic and devastating for the rural communities involved, it was an animal welfare disaster, with movement restrictions condemning many animals to a slow death by starvation and the scale of operation leading to many having been badly shot.

None of this staggering toll and terrible tragedy addresses the fearsome pollution issue, with the massive fires that burned for so long. We can only hope that all this can be avoided this time around.

The arguments against vaccination tend to lose their strength, when repeated outbreaks appear to be an inevitable reality. The arguments for homeopathic involvement (homeoprophylaxis) are very strong, provided we can show that we are able to be effective in control of spread. However, before that necessary information can be obtained, DEFRA needs to allow dialogue and to consider the representation that I shall be sending.

In the wake of the announcement of a new outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), many may require information and guidance.

The first thing is that it is cloven-hoofed animals that are susceptible to this disease, including cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer. Any farmers or others who have these species under their care should do their best to prevent spread to their animals by setting up bio-security zones around the premises, disallowing access of unauthorised people or vehicles into contact with the animals. Disinfectant pads/baths may also be a useful measure (using a recommended disinfectant). Keeping animals away from footpaths and rights of way is an obvious precaution. Limiting travel to or from premises where such species are kept is also advisable. For the time being, it is wisest not to attend animal parks, zoos, rescue centres etc., where such species are kept.

Keep a regular and close inspection schedule, to check for signs of the disease. At present, we have no information on how far the virus may already have spread, so we must all be vigilant.

Signs of the disease in cattle are: slobbering and smacking lips, shivering, sore feet, reduced milk yield, blisters on feet and possibly inside mouth and raised temperature. Affected sheep are less easy to spot.

DEFRA has a comprehensive information sheet at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/about/clinical.htm.

The Soil Association was very pro-active in 2001. Their website is: www.soilassociation.org.

Of course, it's early days yet, but DEFRA really appears to have got its act together this time, under Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds's steerage. The old Jim Scudamore days appear to be a thing of the past. However, DEFRA has yet to be proven 'under fire'. Let's hope they are not tested too hard by this outbreak and that there will not be another animal welfare catastrophe, as we had in 2001.

Contact details for DEFRA:

Helpline telephone: 08459 33 55 77

Helpline e-mail: helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR

If you wish to speak to a named member of DEFRA, ring: 0207 238 6000 (switchboard).

Grrrr!

Number One Son Stephen and his lovely fiancee Kristen had very kindly invited me to TWICKENHAM today, to watch the Rugby match (the pre-World Cup 'friendly', between England & Wales), which promises to be a scorcher. I'm afraid I've had to cry off, owing to the Foot & Mouth Disease outbreak. It's too early to know how big the risk is, to our own or to our clients' animals. Hells Bells.

Until further notice, the AVMC will not be making any non-vital farm visits, to premises which contain cloven-hoofed farm animals nearby. This is regretted but it is the only line we feel able to take, in view of this morning's announcement of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). My office will telephone the clients whom I am to be visiting next week, to check on the livestock situation.

The early news this morning brought a shock. FMD is back, found near Guildford in Surrey.

No information is yet forthcoming, either about the source of the Foot and Mouth virus infection or about whether it could already have spread elsewhere. The ill steer that sparked the investigation was found at an abattoir on Thursday. It would appear, however, at this early stage, that there is a determination at the top to sit on this one hard. Vaccination is also being considered. A UK-wide movement ban is already in place and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone placed around the affected farm. Gordon Brown has cut short his holiday in Dorset and Hilary Benn is returning from his in Italy. Perhaps lessons have been learnt.

This time, it is said that the countryside will not be closed. However, it behoves everyone to try to restrict contact with cattle, sheep or pigs, for the time being, to ensure that none of us is responsible for further spread.

I shall write to the relevant authorities again, to offer my services on the homeopathic side. Last time, this was treated with derision, despite my offer to fund and conduct a pilot study that would quickly have shown whether homeopathy (or more correctly: homeoprophylaxis) could have stopped the spread.

Hopefully, this will be a very different affair, with just one centre, rather than the multi-centric outbreak we experienced in 2001. Meanwhile, my heart goes out to those on the farm, who must now endure total slaughter of their livestock.