UK suffers foot-and-mouth setback

Almost 3.8 million livestock have been culled

LONDON (CNN) -- Farmers in an English county fear restrictions on livestock will remain in force after a clutch of new foot-and-mouth cases were confirmed.

There have been more than 10 new cases confirmed in just four days in a 400-sq-mile region around Hexham, Northumberland,

Farmers had thought the disease was under control in the county and were looking forward to livestock movement restrictions being lifted within two weeks.

Now it is feared thousands of farm animals will have to be slaughtered after the new outbreak in a valley which had previously escaped the disease.

A UK minister described the new spate of cases as "very worrying."

Lord Whitty, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister said: "The situation in Northumberland is now our number one priority.

"In line with that we have imposed the strictest controls on movements and compulsory disinfection that should stamp down on the disease in that area."

Divisional veterinary manager Arthur Griffiths said: "We cannot stress how important it is for people to make sure that they strictly follow the bio-security arrangements."

National Farmers' Union North East director Richard Ellison said: "This is a very major setback for Northumberland because they had been disease-free for three months.

"There is a distinct atmosphere of depression up there at the moment."

The first new infection was discovered on Friday in cows on a farm 20 miles from Hexham.

Strict foot and mouth controls are being enforced in a 400-square-mile region around the market town.

The regulations include the withdrawal of all licences for animal movement, and stringent bio-security being enforced at farms, including disinfectant foot baths and sprays.

All footpaths in the area have been closed and milk tankers deliveries will have an escort from the UK Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs.

Foot-and-mouth disease has devastated Britain's rural community since the first case was identified at an abattoir six months ago with the knock-on effects being felt in the tourist industry.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the Hexham case confirmed on Friday was the first in the area since May 22.

The new cases have occurred in a valley which had previously escaped the disease.

Since the disease was first identified on February 20 among pigs at a slaughterhouse there have been almost 2,000 cases.

Although the number of new cases has generally dropped to a trickle from its peak of about 40 a day it is proving increasingly difficult to completely stamp out the disease.

Almost 3.8 million sheep, cows and pigs have been slaughtered in a bid to contain the disease, harmless to humans but which diminishes animals' productivity and ruins export markets.