The British government set up controls round a farm in Kent today due to a suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease.
A spokeswoman for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) would not confirm whether there had been a suspected outbreak of the disease or the location of the farm.
"We're being ultra-cautious at this point. There's a continuing need for relentless vigilance in response to foot-and-mouth disease," she said.
Defra spokeswoman
Animal health experts are investigating the suspected case reported in Kent, to the east of Surrey where the highly infectious animal disease was found and hundreds of animals culled earlier this month.
Authorities hope they have contained the outbreak in Surrey, but confirmation of a case in Kent would be a blow to agriculture.
Kevin Pearce, director of food and farming at the National Farmers' Union, said samples had been taken from animals at the farm but that no cull had been ordered.
"It doesn't necessarily mean there is a case [of foot and mouth]. It means that they have not been able to discount it straight away, and as a precautionary measure they will be taking samples and testing for any signs of the virus," he said.
A national ban on animal movements has been in place since the confirmation on August 3rd of foot-and-mouth in Surrey, although there are some exceptions such as the movement of animals to slaughter, to milking or for emergency treatment.