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Experts strive to contain disease Disease experts probe farm flood
(about 2 hours later)
No new cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been reported as government experts strive to identify the source of the outbreak. Government experts striving to find the source of a foot-and-mouth outbreak are investigating whether flooding may be to blame, the BBC understands.
Inspectors are examining whether the Pirbright research site in Surrey might be the source. The BBC's Pallab Ghosh said flooding on Wolford farm, near Guildford, in Surrey may have been the means by which animals became infected with the virus.
The National Farmers' Union says its members will be "rightly horrified" if the vaccine centre is to blame. Inspectors have yet to confirm whether the nearby Pirbright research site, which stocked the virus, is the source.
British exports of meat, milk products and live animals have been banned by the European Commission. The prime minister said "every effort" was being made to contain the disease.
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". Speaking after a visit to the Regional Disease Control Centre in Reigate, Surrey, Gordon Brown said it was a difficult time.
Cows culled Farmers' anger
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. But he added: "I hope in a short period of time we can say we have contained, controlled and eradicated this disease."
Susceptible animals on a farm next to the affected premises have been slaughtered as a precaution because of "potentially dangerous contact". Asked about farmers' anger that a research site could be the cause of the outbreak, the prime minister urged people not to pre-judge the outcome of the investigations currently under way.
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." He said "every possible source" was being investigated, adding: "I want to be able to ensure people every effort is being made and people here are working night and day to contain this disease."
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 commentsFOOT-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. "We've tested in up to 100 different farming establishments. We've been testing, obviously, pigs, cattle, sheep and in some cases goats.
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. "It's very important that all the tests are done and checked, particularly obviously with blood tests on sheep. That is being carried out by 150 staff."
Inspectors are initially focusing on private pharmaceutical company Merial, as it had most recently used the strain. The National Farmers' Union says its members will be "rightly horrified" if the vaccine centre is to blame - inspectors hope to have the results of their inquiry by Tuesday.
Flood investigated
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."
The BBC's science correspondent, Pallab Ghosh, said he understands that government scientists are looking into whether a flood at Wolford farm - where the disease was confirmed on Friday - might have been the means by which animals became infected.
He said an investigation of the cuts on the mouths of the cows suggested that they were infected sometime between 18 and 22 July. Computer modelling suggests that airborne transmission from the Pirbright site is a possibility - but unlikely, he said.
The government says no new cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been reported in the past 24 hours. About 97 cows have been culled on two neighbouring farms - most as a precaution due to "potentially dangerous contact".
Defra has widened the size of the protection and surveillance zonesEnlarge Map
Meanwhile the European Commission has formalised a ban on British exports of meat, milk products and live animals.
Two facilities at the Pirbright complex were using a strain of the virus, for research and for vaccines, which was then discovered at Wolford farm, four miles away.
The private pharmaceutical company Merial had most recently used the strain but both it, and the Institute for Animal Health, have denied any breach in biosecurity.
Biosecurity denialBiosecurity denial
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.
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.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."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 has suspended vaccine production but says it has "complete confidence" in its biosecurity measures and to date its investigations have shown "no breach" in procedures.
He added: "To date our investigations continue to show no breach in our procedures."
'Prompt response'
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.
An EC 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."
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?
Protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area have been expanded to 10km (6.2 miles).
But there has been some criticism that footpaths remain open in the area.
Conservative leader David Cameron said: "Of course we want the countryside to be open for business but within the exclusion zone it's very important that people don't actually walk from farm to farm, otherwise there will be a risk of spreading it."
Stephen Bowers, who owns a smallholding on the edge of the exclusion zone, also said bridleways were open and wild deer were freely moving across the area adding: "The countryside is open and it's open to infection."
'Prompt response'
The government has imposed a ban on the movement of all livestock in England, Scotland and Wales. The EC has endorsed a British ban on exporting cattle and animal products. Northern Ireland, which has imposed a ban on all cattle, sheep and pigs from Britain, has been excluded.
A spokesman said the EC was "very happy with the prompt response of the British authorities."
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.
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 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.
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.
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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