Delay over cattle disease results

It was the first time the disease has been seen in England for 10 years

Test results from eight Cornish farms to determine if they have brucellosis have been delayed.

Last week, 124 cattle at Landare Farm near Duloe were slaughtered as a precautionary measure.

Samples were collected from a holding near Bude where the outbreak is thought to have originated and on seven farms in south east Cornwall.

The results were expected on Monday, but will not now be known until Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday.

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

The samples have been sent to a laboratory in Surrey.

The disease causes cattle to miscarry and in humans causes undulant fever, which can have flu-like symptoms.

The disease was first spotted on Wednesday on Gerald and Clive Mitchell's farm at Duloe.

The disease, which can spread to humans, was confirmed on Thursday after a number of cows on the farm were said to have miscarried.

It was the first time brucellosis has been seen in England for 10 years.

Movement restrictions were put in place and cattle on surrounding farms were tested.

Vets then went to a farm in north Cornwall from where the Mitchells purchased a bull last year.

Infected animals

No new cases were reported over the weekend. It is hoped the slaughter of animals at Duloe has stopped the spread of the infection.

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.