This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7107270.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Probable' new farm disease leak | 'Probable' new farm disease leak |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A "probable" new leak of the foot-and-mouth virus has been reported from an animal health facility in Surrey, the government has said. | A "probable" new leak of the foot-and-mouth virus has been reported from an animal health facility in Surrey, the government has said. |
| In a written statement, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said the "internal" leak happened at the Merial laboratory at Pirbright. | |
| Mr Benn added that an inspection team concluded that the virus was not released into the environment. | |
| The virus is understood to have escaped through a leaking valve last week. | The virus is understood to have escaped through a leaking valve last week. |
| In his statement, Mr Benn said it was "possible that live FMD virus had entered the contained drainage system". | |
| He added that from evidence gathered by inspectors, "they are assured that live virus has not been released to the environment." | |
| Merial shares the Pirbright site with the government's Institute for Animal Health. | Merial shares the Pirbright site with the government's Institute for Animal Health. |
| Both facilities formed the focus for investigations into the previous foot-and-mouth outbreaks in Surrey in August. | Both facilities formed the focus for investigations into the previous foot-and-mouth outbreaks in Surrey in August. |
| Investigations into the source of the virus, carried out by the Health and Safety Executive and Imperial College concluded leaking drains, heavy rain and building work at Pirbright were to blame. | Investigations into the source of the virus, carried out by the Health and Safety Executive and Imperial College concluded leaking drains, heavy rain and building work at Pirbright were to blame. |
| However, the HSE was unable to say which of the two laboratories was at fault for releasing the virus. | However, the HSE was unable to say which of the two laboratories was at fault for releasing the virus. |