Dutch foot-and-mouth spreads

A new case of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in the Netherlands, in a remote region which has so far been unaffected by the infection.

The Dutch Government has confirmed that a dairy farm in Ee, near the country's northern coast has been infected with the disease.

The other 21 cases to be confirmed in the Netherlands so far have been confined to the centre of the country.

Ministry spokesman Gerard Westerhof told the Reuters news agency the source of the disease at Ee was still unknown.

"It is not likely that there has been contact between animals from this farm and farms [where the disease has been confirmed earlier]. We are investigating if it has been transferred by humans," he said.

He said around 3,000 cows and several thousand sheep within a 2km radius of the farm would be destroyed.

A surveillance zone of 10km around the farm is to be set up.