Officials have ruled out a suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease in Norfolk.
According to the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, movement restrictions and a six-mile (10 km) temporary control area were applied to animals around a pig farm near Feltwell, in the United States. west of Norfolk.
But in a statement, a Defra spokesman said: “Following reports of a possible case of foot-and-mouth disease on a Norfolk farm, we acted quickly to establish restrictions on the facility and collected samples for testing. tests have allowed us to completely rule out the presence of this disease. Investigations into other possible causes continue. “
UK veterinary chief Christine Middlemiss tweeted: “After swift action in response to this possible case, I can confirm that the tests have allowed me to completely rule out the presence of disease.”
Sign up for First Edition, our free daily newsletter, every weekday morning at 7:00 BST
Foot-and-mouth disease is a serious and highly contagious viral disease of livestock that affects cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and other split-hoofed animals.
According to the World Organization for Animal Health, the disease is not easily transmitted to humans and does not pose a risk to public health.
The last outbreak in Britain was in 2007, but a particularly serious outbreak occurred in 2001 and culminated in the slaughter of more than 6 million animals.