After animals at two farms inside a 10-kilometer protection zone in Surrey were culled for being infected with foot-and-mouth, samples from a third potential hot spot were analyzed and the results came out negative.

The announcement was made by Britain's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), determining Prime Minister Gordon Brown to assure the population that the outbreak was contained and “Britain is open for business.”

“I am determined to look at all measures to boost the rural economy. We are able to emphasize the benefits of tourism in our rural economy,” Brown said.

The outbreak caused Britain to ban all livestock movement, exports of meat and milk products in the wake of a new economic crisis. More than 500 animals were culled following this outbreak, but all were inside the surveillance zone and further tests outside the area revealed that no threat is looming.

Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds did not rule out that more cattle inside the zone could be infected, but she said a country-wide vaccination isn’t necessary at this point because “the infection may be contained within the Surrey area.”

Regarding the origin of this outbreak, Reynolds said it is very possible that the Pirbright laboratories are the source. An investigation at the research center located a few miles from the farms near Guildford was launched and preliminary reports indicate that a potential biosecurity breach led to this massive infestation with foot-and-mouth.

Britain’s premier promised that farmers affected by the disease would benefit from compensatory pay and this sector of the economy will be included in a special program in order to avoid further losses.