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| Disease experts probe farm flood | Disease experts probe farm flood |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Experts searching for the source of a foot-and-mouth outbreak are looking into whether flooding may be to blame. | Experts searching for the source of a foot-and-mouth outbreak are looking into whether flooding may be to blame. |
| Chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds said flooding was one possible means by which animals may have been infected on a farm near Guildford, Surrey. | Chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds said flooding was one possible means by which animals may have been infected on a farm near Guildford, Surrey. |
| Inspectors have yet to confirm whether the nearby Pirbright research site, which stocked the virus, is the source. | Inspectors have yet to confirm whether the nearby Pirbright research site, which stocked the virus, is the source. |
| Earlier, the government said no new cases of the disease had been reported in the previous 24 hours. | Earlier, the government said no new cases of the disease had been reported in the previous 24 hours. |
| Ms Reynolds said no decision had been made on vaccines for livestock, but 300,000 doses had been ordered from Merial - the vaccine manufacturer at Pirbright being investigated as a possible source of the outbreak. | Ms Reynolds said no decision had been made on vaccines for livestock, but 300,000 doses had been ordered from Merial - the vaccine manufacturer at Pirbright being investigated as a possible source of the outbreak. |
| Vaccine profits | |
| When asked how much Merial would be paid for producing the vaccine, Ms Reynolds said: "I cannot give you the financial implications of that. Merial is the supplier of the UK vaccine bank." | When asked how much Merial would be paid for producing the vaccine, Ms Reynolds said: "I cannot give you the financial implications of that. Merial is the supplier of the UK vaccine bank." |
| National Farmers' Union (NFU) boss Richard MacDonald said vaccination - resisted by some who fear it would jeopardise exports - "may well have to play a part", but said he had received assurances that any decision would be based on "good science". | National Farmers' Union (NFU) boss Richard MacDonald said vaccination - resisted by some who fear it would jeopardise exports - "may well have to play a part", but said he had received assurances that any decision would be based on "good science". |
| Ms Reynolds said the priority remained containment, adding: "It is important that no animals move in Great Britain." | Ms Reynolds said the priority remained containment, adding: "It is important that no animals move in Great Britain." |
| FOOT-AND-MOUTH IN NUMBERS 97 cattle culled - 64 from infected premises, 33 from neighbouring premises 111,000 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 class="" href="/1/hi/northern_ireland/6932311.stm">N Ireland exempt from ban class="" href="/1/hi/england/surrey/6933668.stm">Lives on hold class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/6932852.stm">Scots push for early exports | |
| Earlier Gordon Brown visited a regional disease control centre in Reigate, Surrey, and said "every effort" was being made to contain the disease. | |
| Asked about farmers' anger that a research site could be the cause of the outbreak, the prime minister urged people not to prejudge the outcome of the investigations currently under way. | Asked about farmers' anger that a research site could be the cause of the outbreak, the prime minister urged people not to prejudge the outcome of the investigations currently under way. |
| He said "every possible source" was being investigated, up to 100 different farming establishments had been tested and 150 staff were working on the tests. | He said "every possible source" was being investigated, up to 100 different farming establishments had been tested and 150 staff were working on the tests. |
| 'Body blow' | |
| Mr MacDonald said it would be a "body blow" if the vaccine centre was to blame, but also urged people to wait for the results of the inspection - which are expected on Tuesday. | Mr MacDonald said it would be a "body blow" if the vaccine centre was to blame, but also urged people to wait for the results of the inspection - which are expected on Tuesday. |
| BBC science correspondent Pallab Ghosh said a flood on 20 July at Wolford farm - where the disease was confirmed on Friday - was one possible means by which animals could have become 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 models suggest it was unlikely to have been carried by the wind, he said. | 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 models suggest it was unlikely to have been carried by the wind, he said. |
| Defra has widened the size of the protection and surveillance zonesEnlarge Map | |
| Ms Reynolds said "all factors, including flooding and movements" were being investigated. | Ms Reynolds said "all factors, including flooding and movements" were being investigated. |
| "There is a particular interest in a particular area of the farm where there was some flood water," she added. | "There is a particular interest in a particular area of the farm where there was some flood water," she added. |
| About 97 cows have been culled on two neighbouring farms - most as a precaution because of "potentially dangerous contact". | About 97 cows have been culled on two neighbouring farms - most as a precaution because of "potentially dangerous contact". |
| 'Waiting to hear' | |
| One of the farmers, Roger Pride, told the BBC: "We are still taking it in really, it's a lot to take in. | |
| "We can do work but it's just a case of waiting to hear the news, same as everyone else really." | |
| Meanwhile, the European Commission has formalised a ban on British exports of meat, milk products and live animals. | Meanwhile, the European Commission has formalised a ban on British exports of meat, milk products and live animals. |
| 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? | |
| Supermarkets in the UK have said they are not expecting any shortages of meat following the outbreak. | Supermarkets in the UK have said they are not expecting any shortages of meat following the outbreak. |
| Two facilities - the private firm Merial and the government funded Institute for Animal Health - based at the Pirbright complex were using a strain of the virus, for research and for vaccines. | Two facilities - the private firm Merial and the government funded Institute for Animal Health - based at the Pirbright complex were using a strain of the virus, for research and for vaccines. |
| That strain was then discovered at Wolford farm, four miles away. Both have denied any breach in bio-security and Merial says it has "complete confidence" in its bio-security measures. | That strain was then discovered at Wolford farm, four miles away. Both have denied any breach in bio-security and Merial says it has "complete confidence" in its bio-security measures. |
| Protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area have been expanded to 10km (6.2 miles). | Protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area have been expanded to 10km (6.2 miles). |
| Footpath concerns | |
| But there has been some criticism that footpaths remain open in the area. | 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." | 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. | 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. |
| Two sites on the Pirbright complex are being investigated | |
| But Ms Reynolds said: "Only on the infected premises, and based on veterinary advice, do we always shut footpaths." | But Ms Reynolds said: "Only on the infected premises, and based on veterinary advice, do we always shut footpaths." |
| She said "some parks, safari parks and other wildlife centres" had closed paths as a precaution, but Defra was not advising that such action was necessary. | She said "some parks, safari parks and other wildlife centres" had closed paths as a precaution, but Defra was not advising that such action was necessary. |
| The government has banned the movement of all livestock in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland, which has imposed a ban on all cattle, sheep and pigs from Britain, has been excluded. | The government has banned the movement of all livestock in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland, which has imposed a ban on all cattle, sheep and pigs from Britain, has been excluded. |
| Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said that the facilities at Pirbright were being redeveloped following a critical report about the institute in 2002. | Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said that the facilities at Pirbright were being redeveloped following a critical report about the institute in 2002. |
| 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. |
| A review of bio security measures at Pirbright will be led by Professor Brian Spratt of Imperial College London, who will report back to Mr Benn. | A review of bio security measures at Pirbright will be led by Professor Brian Spratt of Imperial College London, who will report back to Mr Benn. |
| 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: |