Foot and Mouth and Bluetongue – Latest Advice

FOOT and Mouth Disease controls and the creation of a bluetongue temporary area.
There have now been seven confirmed cases of FMD since Friday 3 August 2007, all within Surrey and a second cow has tested positive for bluetongue on a farm in Baylham, Suffolk.

In response to this and to allow farm to farm movement of livestock in low risk areas, the country has been divided into three areas:

A Foot-and-Mouth Risk Area
A Foot-and-Mouth Low Risk Area
A Bluetongue Temporary Area
The FMD Protection Zone and a FMD Surveillance remain in place around the FMD infected premises. The Declaratory Orders creating these zones and a map depicting the above areas can be found on the DEFRA website.

Due to our proximity to Surrey and livestock movement trends, Oxfordshire has been placed within the FMD Risk Area but is outside the Bluetongue Temporary Area.

As a consequence of Oxfordshire being within the FMD Risk Area farm to farm movements are not permitted. Movements authorised by any of the General Licences can continue to take place (General Licence conditions apply).

Further information
Farmers and the public can also contact the Defra helpline on 08459 335577 or visit the Defra website. Further information on FMD and a map of the protection and surveillance zones can be found on the Defra website. To see the Statutory Declarations creating the protection zone, surveillance zone and the national restricted zone visit the Defra website.