The fresh outbreak in south Wales is at a farm in Newbridge, a spokesman for the Welsh Assembly said today, which brings the total number of cases of the disease in Wales to 92. The first outbreak of the disease in Devon since May 19 was yesterday confirmed near Wembworthy. There are now 31 confirmed cases of foot and mouth in the Settle cluster, in which the first outbreak was reported on May 10. Fourteen of the first 20 cases in the Settle cluster have been linked by the movement of people, vehicles or licensed movement of livestock, Maff said.
Many farms have parcels of land away from the home premises, including some fell and moorland.
Consequently there have been many movements of people, vehicles and equipment, as well as some 350 licensed animal movements to carry out normal animal husbandry and working practices within the area. All licensed movements have, of course, now stopped within the Settle area. It is believed that the source of the Settle outbreak was among sheep at a local farm and Maff is investigating how the animals became infected. Yesterday, police moved on more than 100 people protesting at a foot and mouth burial site. The protesters, from Widdrington Station in Northumberland, had mounted a road block outside the burial site near Stobswood Brickworks to protest against dumping carcasses from outside the local area.