Sheep tests confirm exposure to foot and mouth disease
DEFRA tests on sheep within the foot and mouth disease protection zone in Surrey show the animals have been exposed to the virus.
The tests do not necessarily mean that the animals are carrying the live virus but it does mean their immune response has at some stage been exposed to foot and mouth.
Further tests are now being conducted to establish whether the virus is live within the animals’ blood streams.
The sheep – fewer than 20 – were found as part of the ongoing surveillance on a farm close to the confirmed outbreaks, within protection zone.
DEFRA has confirmed the sheep will be slaughtered.
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