Foot and Mouth has been confirmed today, near Egham in Surrey. This is about 10 miles from the previous centre and long after the expiry of the expected incubation period (the surveillance zone in Surrey was lifted at midday on Saturday 8 September). A 10 km Surveillance Zone and a 3 km Control Zone are now in place and slaughter has been ordered.

Investigations as to source are going to be very rigorous, no doubt but now all we can do is wait to see what transpires. Certainly, a simple explanation is not going to be forthcoming. We have wild reservoir (e.g. deer), abject carelessness, criminality/sabotage or a completely different source, unconnected to the previous incident, to consider. The 'flood' theory for spread of the virus will no longer 'hold water', unless the virus is able to live in the environment for much longer than expected, despite the current weather conditions not being favourable for maximum virus survival and spread.