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Foot-and-mouth transfer is probed Foot-and-mouth transfer is probed
(about 1 hour later)
Health inspectors are investigating the possibility that foot-and-mouth was transferred to a farm in Surrey by employees of a nearby research site.Health inspectors are investigating the possibility that foot-and-mouth was transferred to a farm in Surrey by employees of a nearby research site.
One line of inquiry is that workers at vaccine manufacturer Merial, at Pirbright, could have picked up the infection because of drainage problems.One line of inquiry is that workers at vaccine manufacturer Merial, at Pirbright, could have picked up the infection because of drainage problems.
The farmers' union has warned it could take legal action against anyone found responsible for the outbreak. Officials have confirmed allotments near the farm where the outbreak began are also being investigated.
Merial said there was no evidence the virus was spread by humans.Merial said there was no evidence the virus was spread by humans.
HOW FOOT-AND-MOUTH SPREADS Direct contact, from animal to animalFluid from an infected animal's blister; saliva, milk or dung also pass on the diseaseAnimals eating infected feedVirus can be spread by people, vehicles or roads, if not disinfected Airborne spread of disease also possibleAnimals can begin spreading virus before visible signs of disease emergeSource: Defra Scottish restrictions relaxedHOW FOOT-AND-MOUTH SPREADS Direct contact, from animal to animalFluid from an infected animal's blister; saliva, milk or dung also pass on the diseaseAnimals eating infected feedVirus can be spread by people, vehicles or roads, if not disinfected Airborne spread of disease also possibleAnimals can begin spreading virus before visible signs of disease emergeSource: Defra Scottish restrictions relaxed
It is understood that ongoing investigations have discovered a link between problems with drainage and the possible actions, accidental or deliberate, of Merial employees who may own or use allotments near to the farm where the outbreak began. A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the allotments were being looked at as part of the ongoing "epidemiology investigation".
"We are looking at all lines of inquiry," he added.
It is understood ongoing investigations have discovered a link between problems with drainage and the possible actions, accidental or deliberate, of Merial employees who may use the nearby allotments.
BBC correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said she had been told that animal health inspectors had been looking at properties close to Woolford Farm, near Guildford, where the first cases were found on Friday.BBC correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said she had been told that animal health inspectors had been looking at properties close to Woolford Farm, near Guildford, where the first cases were found on Friday.
A second outbreak was confirmed at a second farm on Monday. A second outbreak was confirmed at a farm on Monday and Defra has confirmed a total of 214 animals have been culled within the protection zone since Saturday.
See layout of laboratory complexes at Pirbright siteEnlarge Image
The government has banned the movement of all livestock across Britain - although some restrictions have now been relaxed in Scotland.
However, Defra is considering licensing the movement of fallen stock - animals which die on farms - on a farm by farm basis.
On Tuesday, the Health and Safety Executive found there was a "strong probability" the foot-and-mouth outbreak began at the Pirbright research site, home to Merial and the state-run Institute for Animal Health.On Tuesday, the Health and Safety Executive found there was a "strong probability" the foot-and-mouth outbreak began at the Pirbright research site, home to Merial and the state-run Institute for Animal Health.
But it did not specify which of the two facilities was to blame.But it did not specify which of the two facilities was to blame.
'Surface leak''Surface leak'
The executive said there was a "negligible" risk it had been spread by the wind or flooding.The executive said there was a "negligible" risk it had been spread by the wind or flooding.
See layout of laboratory complexes at Pirbright siteEnlarge Image
But its report said the disease could have been the result of human movement or "accidental or deliberate transfer".But its report said the disease could have been the result of human movement or "accidental or deliberate transfer".
Vaccine manufacturer Merial had been involved in "large scale production" of the strain - about 10,000 litres - while the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) had been carrying out "small scale" experiments, it said.Vaccine manufacturer Merial had been involved in "large scale production" of the strain - about 10,000 litres - while the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) had been carrying out "small scale" experiments, it said.
In a statement, Merial said: "Over the last three and a half days we have conducted intensive internal investigations and, as a result, continue to have complete confidence in our processes and procedures for health, safety and environmental protection, quality control, quality assurance and regulatory compliance.
"To date, we have not been able to establish any evidence that the virus may have been transported out of our centre by humans."
The company also said it "does not release water from the shared Pirbright site.
Enlarge Map Enlarge Map
"We ensure that the water we use in our virus production is treated. We then transfer it to the IAH who treat it further and release it." In a statement, Merial said it had conducted "intensive internal investigations" and had "complete confidence" in its processes and procedures.
"To date, we have not been able to establish any evidence that the virus may have been transported out of our centre by humans," it said.
The company added that it did "not release water" from the shared Pirbright site.
Microbiology expert Hugh Pennington said it was possible there had been "some sort of surface leak at Pirbright".Microbiology expert Hugh Pennington said it was possible there had been "some sort of surface leak at Pirbright".
"Then perhaps feet, motor car tyres or something like that could have transported it down a bit further south into Surrey," he told BBC News."Then perhaps feet, motor car tyres or something like that could have transported it down a bit further south into Surrey," he told BBC News.
READ THE FINDINGS Initial report into Pirbright site by Health and Safety Executive [94.5KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said further inquiries would be carried out into drainage on the Pirbright site and the possibility that the strain had been released by human movement would be investigated further as "a matter of urgency".Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said further inquiries would be carried out into drainage on the Pirbright site and the possibility that the strain had been released by human movement would be investigated further as "a matter of urgency".
Following criticism from some farmers and opposition parties, he also ordered that all footpaths within the 3km (1.8 mile) protection zone should be closed with immediate effect.Following criticism from some farmers and opposition parties, he also ordered that all footpaths within the 3km (1.8 mile) protection zone should be closed with immediate effect.
READ THE FINDINGS class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/07_08_07_pirbright.pdf">Initial report into Pirbright site by Health and Safety Executive [94.5KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here But shadow minister for culture, media and sport, Tobias Ellwood, told the BBC this action had been taken too late and that he had wandered around on Tuesday at allotments near the outbreak site.
"I shouldn't be allowed to wander around at will," he said. "We need to have exclusion zones that actually work - and this is not happening at the moment."
Isolation hopeIsolation hope
Meanwhile, National Farmers' Union (NFU) president Peter Kendall told BBC Two's Newsnight programme the union was considering legal action.Meanwhile, National Farmers' Union (NFU) president Peter Kendall told BBC Two's Newsnight programme the union was considering legal action.
He said: "If this turns out to be a commercial company that has been and can be shown to have been careless in any way, my members are already very loudly saying, 'we've lost money, our businesses are no longer able to function, we've got animals, extra feed costs, problems with capacity being squeezed on farms'."He said: "If this turns out to be a commercial company that has been and can be shown to have been careless in any way, my members are already very loudly saying, 'we've lost money, our businesses are no longer able to function, we've got animals, extra feed costs, problems with capacity being squeezed on farms'."
FOOT-AND-MOUTH IN NUMBERS 97 cattle were culled from the first outbreak - 64 from infected premises, 33 from neighbouring premises. 102 were culled in the second outbreak111,000 farms across UK affected by movement banThat includes 10m cattle, 23m sheep and 5m pigs Send us your comments
Claims could run into millions of pounds, he added.Claims could run into millions of pounds, he added.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "hopeful" a second report would be published on Wednesday.Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "hopeful" a second report would be published on Wednesday.
FOOT-AND-MOUTH IN NUMBERS 97 cattle were culled from the first outbreak - 64 from infected premises, 33 from neighbouring premises. 102 were culled in the second outbreak111,000 farms across UK affected by movement banThat includes 10m cattle, 23m sheep and 5m pigs Send us your comments
"We will continue these investigations so we get an isolation of the disease itself, and an isolation of the cause of the disease," he said."We will continue these investigations so we get an isolation of the disease itself, and an isolation of the cause of the disease," he said.
About 200 cattle have been culled on the two farms since Friday and the government has banned the movement of all livestock across Britain - although some restrictions have now been relaxed in Scotland. Meanwhile, EU veterinary and food safety experts - including deputy chief veterinary officer Fred Landeg - will meet in Brussels later to formally assess the UK government's response to the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
Meanwhile, EU veterinary and food safety experts will meet in Brussels later to formally assess the UK government's response to the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
The commission has already said it is satisfied the government is doing everything it can.The commission has already said it is satisfied the government is doing everything it can.
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.