LONDON, U.K. (Reuters) – Farm officials say the United Kingdom has uncovered a fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at a farm in a region of northern England that had been free of the livestock disease for about three months.
The new case is another setback in Britain’s more than six month battle against the disease, which has already cost the government hundreds of millions of pounds.
The National Farmers’ Union in northeastern England said the new outbreak meant the region had no hope of resuming business for months.
“This is extremely worrying,” said Laurie Norris, an NFU policy adviser.
“It has been so long since we have had a case and everybody was looking forward to the resumption of some form of animal movement. We’ve got autumn sheep sales in September and this just puts everything back.”
Scientists say the disease could flare up again if officials fail to eradicate it before animals are brought indoors during the winter months.
