British Authorities Confirm Second Cattle Herd Showing Hoof And Mouth Symptoms - AFP

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LONDON -- British animal health inspectors discovered another herd of cattle suspected of having foot and mouth disease on Monday, raising fears that the virus may not be as contained as initially hoped.

During checks of cattle within a 10-km radius (6 mile) protection zone set up around the farm where foot and mouth cases were first confirmed on Friday, inspectors found more cattle with signs of the virus, the government said.

"We have been able to rapidly identify this suspect case and take appropriate action swiftly," the country's chief veterinary officer, Debby Reynolds, said in a statement released by the department for food, environment and agriculture (Defra). "I continue to urge all animal keepers to be vigilant for signs of disease and practise strict biosecurity."

The animals would be culled "as soon as practicable", Reynolds said, adding that samples to confirm that the cattle were infected with foot and mouth had been sent to a laboratory.

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