Bull could have carried disease

Defra has imposed restrictions on neighbouring farms

A bull is suspected of being at the centre of England's first brucellosis outbreak in cattle for 10 years.

The disease, which can spread to humans, was found at Landare Farm near Liskeard, after some cows miscarried.

An entire beef suckler herd of 36 cattle may have to be culled on Friday and cattle movements are restricted on nine neighbouring farms in Cornwall.

The bull was born and bred in the county but may have come into contact with an infected animal, say experts.

BRUCELLOSIS Causes abortion in pregnant cows Vets, farmers, meat inspectors, abattoir workers most at risk Causes mild flu-like illness, while others experience recurrent or chronic fever, which can be very serious and last several years Last case in England was 1993

Vets from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have started investigations into how the infection got to Cornwall and whether it has spread elsewhere.

They are focusing on imports of animals to Cornwall from Northern Ireland where brucellosis is a serious problem, with more than 200 farms infected.

Defra vet Jan Kelly told BBC Radio 4's Farming Today that the bull, which was humanely killed along with four cows on Thursday, had shown symptoms of the disease.

Cattle from Landare Farm may be culled on Friday

She said: "The bull is one of the reactors and that is why we have to consider him as a suspect.

"Normally bulls are considered to be quite a low risk in the transmission of the disease.

"But we have to explore all avenues."

She said that the disease had probably been contained within Cornwall.

The disease causes cattle to miscarry and in humans the disease causes a mild flu-like illness, while others experience recurrent or chronic fever, which can be very serious and last several years.

The main risk is to farmers and vets because brucellosis can be passed to humans if they have contact with infected animals.

It can also be passed by contaminated animal products such as untreated milk.

However, no milk from the infected farm has gone into the human food chain because the cows are used to suckle beef calves and not provide milk for dairy products.

There were two cases of the disease last year in Scotland which were linked with imported cattle from the Republic of Ireland.