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Disease lab results 'by Tuesday' Experts strive to contain disease
(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 by Tuesday. No new cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been reported as government experts strive to identify the source of the outbreak.
The Health and Safety Executive is examining whether the Pirbright site was the source of the outbreak. Inspectors are examining whether the Pirbright research site in Surrey might be the source.
Two facilities at the Pirbright complex were using a strain of the virus, for research and for vaccines, which was found at a farm four miles away. The National Farmers' Union says its members will be "rightly horrified" if the vaccine centre is to blame.
No new cases of foot-and-mouth have been reported in the last 24 hours. British exports of meat, milk products and live animals have been banned by the European Commission.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who chaired a meeting of the Cabinet's emergency Cobra committee earlier, said the efforts were to "contain, control and then eradicate this disease".
Cows culled
The government said there had been no new cases reported in the past 24 hours; about 120 cows have been culled, of which 39 tested positive for the disease.
Susceptible animals on a farm next to the affected premises have been slaughtered as a precaution because of "potentially dangerous contact".
Farmer Derrick Pride, whose cattle were at the centre of the outbreak, said: "It is nothing to do with us. It is not our fault. It is something beyond our control."
FOOT-AND-MOUTH IN NUMBERS Around 120 cattle culled111,000 farms across UK affected by movement banThat includes 10m cattle, 23m sheep and 5m pigs Send us your comments
Health and Safety Executive inspectors examining the Pirbright lab hope to have the results of their inquiries by Tuesday.
Two facilities at the complex were using a strain of the virus, for research and for vaccines, which was found at a farm four miles away.
Inspectors are initially focusing on private pharmaceutical company Merial, as it had most recently used the strain.
Biosecurity denialBiosecurity denial
The government has imposed a ban on the movement of all livestock in England, Scotland and Wales.
The European Commission has banned exports of meat, milk products and live animals from Britain, excluding Northern Ireland.
A commission spokesman said there was no need for individual EU countries to take trade action against the UK.
He added: "We are very happy with the prompt response of the British authorities."
Inspectors are initially focusing their investigation into the outbreak, discovered on Friday, on private pharmaceutical company Merial, as it had most recently used the strain.
Both it and the publicly funded Institute for Animal Health research facility work at the Pirbright site and both deny there has been a breach in biosecurity.Both it and the publicly funded Institute for Animal Health research facility work at the Pirbright site and both 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 pigs class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7055&edition=1&ttl=20070803222614">Send us your comments The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has increased the size of the protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area to 10km (6.2 miles).
After meeting Mr Brown at Downing Street on Monday, NFU President Peter Kendall said his members were "angry and very, very concerned" about speculation linking the virus to the Pirbright facilities.
Defra has widened the size of the protection and surveillance zonesEnlarge Map
"It cannot be the case that we have a scientific institution that actually releases disease into the environment, and our members will be quite rightly horrified," he said.
Merial's managing director David Biland said the company had suspended vaccine production and all staff would be assisting investigators.Merial's managing director David Biland said the company had suspended vaccine production and all staff would be assisting investigators.
He added: "To date our investigations continue to show no breach in our procedures."He added: "To date our investigations continue to show no breach in our procedures."
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. 'Prompt response'
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Monday morning, has asked for the results of the investigation to be available by Tuesday. Meanwhile the government has imposed a ban on the movement of all livestock in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has been excluded from the EC export ban.
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1186393403/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1186393403/html/1.stm', '1186393481', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=416,height=618,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Defra has widened the size of the protection and surveillance zones href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1186393403/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1186393403/html/1.stm', '1186393481', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=416,height=618,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Map An EC spokesman said there was no need for individual EU countries to take trade action against the UK.
Mr Brown said the efforts were to "contain, control and then eradicate this disease". He added: "We are very happy with the prompt response of the British authorities."
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said there have been no new cases of foot-and-mouth reported in the past 24 hours. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6930899.stm">What is foot-and-mouth?
Earlier it confirmed around 120 cows in all had been culled in response to the outbreak, of which 39 tested positive for the disease.
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 were at the centre of the outbreak, said: "It is nothing to do with us. It is not our fault. It is something beyond our control."
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has urged people to remain vigilant as the source of the outbreak has not been confirmed.Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has urged people to remain vigilant as the source of the outbreak has not been confirmed.
Prof 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.
Last year the institute expressed concerns about cuts to its funding in written evidence given to MPs.Last year the institute expressed concerns about cuts to its funding in written evidence given to MPs.
It said it faced difficulties because its funding had been frozen, meaning three years of cuts in real terms.It said it faced difficulties because its funding had been frozen, meaning three years of cuts in real terms.
Vaccine strain
The evidence also suggested the equipment in the labs where tests for foot-and-mouth were carried out was "in desperate need of investment".The evidence also suggested the equipment in the labs where tests for foot-and-mouth were carried out was "in desperate need of investment".
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.
Defra has increased the size of the protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area to 10km (6.2 miles)
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?
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.
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.Britain has also imposed a voluntary ban on exports of all animals and animal products.
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.
How have you or your business been affected as a result of this outbreak? Send us your comments using the form below, and please include a telephone number if you don't mind us contacting you:How have you or your business been affected as a result of this outbreak? Send us your comments using the form below, and please include a telephone number if you don't mind us contacting you:
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