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Disease lab results 'by Tuesday' Disease lab results 'by Tuesday'
(about 1 hour later)
Inspectors probing the suspected source of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Surrey hope to have the results of their inquiries in the next 36 hours.Inspectors probing the suspected source of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Surrey hope to have the results of their inquiries in the next 36 hours.
The Health and Safety Executive is examining whether the Pirbright site could have been the source of the outbreak which was confirmed on Friday.The Health and Safety Executive is examining whether the Pirbright site could have been the source of the outbreak which was confirmed on Friday.
Two facilities at the Pirbright complex were using a strain of the virus for research and for vaccines.Two facilities at the Pirbright complex were using a strain of the virus for research and for vaccines.
It was the same strain found at an infected farm four miles away.It was the same strain found at an infected farm four miles away.
Biosecurity denialBiosecurity denial
Inspectors are initially focusing their investigation on private pharmaceutical company Merial, which develops vaccines, as it had most recently used the strain.Inspectors are initially focusing their investigation on private pharmaceutical company Merial, which develops vaccines, as it had most recently used the strain.
Both it and the publicly funded Institute for Animal Health research facility, deny there has been a breach in biosecurity.Both it and the publicly funded Institute for Animal Health research facility, deny there has been a breach in biosecurity.
FOOT-AND-MOUTH IN NUMBERS Around 120 cattle culled111,000 farms across UK affected by movement banThat includes 10m cattle, 23m sheep and 5m pigsFOOT-AND-MOUTH IN NUMBERS Around 120 cattle culled111,000 farms across UK affected by movement banThat includes 10m cattle, 23m sheep and 5m pigs
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he wanted the results of the investigation by Tuesday. Merial's managing director David Biland said on Monday while the company had suspended vaccine production, staff would be attending work to assist investigators.
He added: "To date our investigations continue to show no breach in our procedures.
"However, it is still too early in this investigation for anyone to determine the cause of the outbreak."
Vigilance call
Professor Martin Shirley, director of the Institute for Animal Heath, where there has been limited use of the strain in the past month, said it had launched its own inquiry.
"We're looking at the functioning of the laboratory in the same way that our colleagues at Merial have also looked at their facility as well," he said.
"And it's exactly what I think you would expect for an institute running an complex laboratory to begin to assess the functioning of it over the past few weeks."
Defra has widened the size of the protection and surveillance zonesEnlarge Map
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has asked for the results of the investigation to be available by Tuesday.
Mr Brown said the efforts were to "contain, control and then eradicate this disease".Mr Brown said the efforts were to "contain, control and then eradicate this disease".
He also said the disease's "transmission mechanism" had still to be discovered.
Mr Brown said: "I'm determined that we do everything to ensure that the biosecurity that we want to see is properly in place and we can be assured of that."
He said the ban on the movement of cows, sheep and pigs would remain in place.He said the ban on the movement of cows, sheep and pigs would remain in place.
Vigilance call
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said around 120 cows in all had been culled in response to the outbreak.The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said around 120 cows in all had been culled in response to the outbreak.
Defra has widened the size of the protection and surveillance zonesEnlarge Map
Susceptible animals on a farm next to the affected premises had been slaughtered as a precaution because of "potentially dangerous contact".Susceptible animals on a farm next to the affected premises had been slaughtered as a precaution because of "potentially dangerous contact".
Protection zone
Farmer Derrick Pride, whose cattle have been slaughtered as a result of the outbreak, said: "It is nothing to do with us. It is not our fault. It is something beyond our control."
There have so far not been any further outbreaks, but Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has urged people to remain vigilant as the source has not been confirmed.There have so far not been any further outbreaks, but Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has urged people to remain vigilant as the source has not been confirmed.
Following the arrival of the inspectors at the site, Merial's managing director David Biland said "our initial investigation shows no breach of our procedures".
Mr Biland stressed that the company's Pirbright centre had produced millions of vaccine doses in the past 15 years without any problems.
"It is too early in the investigation for anyone to determine the source of the outbreak," said Mr Biland.
Production halted
Professor Martin Shirley, director of the Institute for Animal Health, said there had been limited use of the strain at the institute within the past four weeks, but insisted there had been "no breaches of our procedures".
Prof Martin Shirley insisted IAH procedures had not been breachedProf Martin Shirley insisted IAH procedures had not been breached
He said that the facilities at Pirbright were being redeveloped following a report made in 2002, as a result of the foot-and-mouth outbreak the previous year, which had criticisms of the institute.He said that the facilities at Pirbright were being redeveloped following a report made in 2002, as a result of the foot-and-mouth outbreak the previous year, which had criticisms of the institute.
The strain of the disease identified at Wolford farm, near Guildford, was also used in a batch of vaccine manufactured on 16 July by Merial.The strain of the disease identified at Wolford farm, near Guildford, was also used in a batch of vaccine manufactured on 16 July by Merial.
When the strain was identified, Merial voluntarily halted vaccine production as a precaution.
Movement ban
Defra has increased the size of the protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area to 10km.Defra has increased the size of the protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area to 10km.
The strain of foot-and-mouth identified is not one normally found in animals but is used in vaccine production and in diagnostic laboratories.The strain of foot-and-mouth identified is not one normally found in animals but is used in vaccine production and in diagnostic laboratories.
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease which affects cattleSymptoms include fever, lesions in the mouth and lamenessThe disease only crosses the species barrier from cattle to human with very great difficultyThe disease in humans is mild, short-lived and requires no medical treatment What is foot-and-mouth?FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease which affects cattleSymptoms include fever, lesions in the mouth and lamenessThe disease only crosses the species barrier from cattle to human with very great difficultyThe disease in humans is mild, short-lived and requires no medical treatment What is foot-and-mouth?
In a statement, Defra said: "The present indications are that this strain is a 01 BFS67-like virus, isolated in the 1967 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Great Britain."In a statement, Defra said: "The present indications are that this strain is a 01 BFS67-like virus, isolated in the 1967 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Great Britain."
A review of biosecurity measures at Pirbright will be led by Professor Brian Spratt of Imperial College London, who will report back to Mr Benn.A review of biosecurity measures at Pirbright will be led by Professor Brian Spratt of Imperial College London, who will report back to Mr Benn.
A ban on the movement of all livestock is in place in England, Scotland and Wales.A ban on the movement of all livestock is in place in England, Scotland and Wales.
Northern Ireland has imposed a ban on all cattle, sheep and pigs from Britain, but there are currently no restrictions on the movement of livestock within NI and across the border.Northern Ireland has imposed a ban on all cattle, sheep and pigs from Britain, but there are currently no restrictions on the movement of livestock within NI and across the border.
Britain has also imposed a voluntary ban on exports of all animals and animal products, Defra said, and the European Commission said it would ban live animal exports from the UK, as well as meat and dairy products from the area affected by the outbreak. Britain has also imposed a voluntary ban on exports of all animals and animal products and the European Commission said it would ban live animal exports from the UK.
The outbreak in 2001 led to between 6.5 million and 10 million animals being destroyed and cost as much as £8.5bn.The outbreak in 2001 led to between 6.5 million and 10 million animals being destroyed and cost as much as £8.5bn.
Defra has set up a helpline in response to the latest outbreak on 08459 335577.Defra has set up a helpline in response to the latest outbreak on 08459 335577.