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.