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Disease lab faces safety inquiry Disease lab faces safety inquiry
(about 1 hour later)
Health and safety inspectors are to visit the research facility identified as a possible source of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey.Health and safety inspectors are to visit the research facility identified as a possible source of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey.
The strain of the disease found is identical to that used for vaccines at the Pirbright Laboratory.The strain of the disease found is identical to that used for vaccines at the Pirbright Laboratory.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said inspectors would check the facility, and an urgent review of biosecurity there would also be carried out. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said inspectors would check the facility, and an urgent review of bio security there would also be carried out.
He urged people to remain vigilant as the source had not been confirmed.He urged people to remain vigilant as the source had not been confirmed.
And he commended the authorities for their swift reaction to the outbreak at the farm, three miles from the Pirbright facility where the Institute of Animal Health is based.And he commended the authorities for their swift reaction to the outbreak at the farm, three miles from the Pirbright facility where the Institute of Animal Health is based.
Mr Benn told BBC News 24 Sunday the link to the laboratory was a "promising lead", but he added: "We don't know for sure, and therefore it's very very important that people continue to be vigilant."
There had been reports of possible foot-and-mouth infection at four other farms, but these had all tested negative for the disease, he said.
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.
Precautionary measuresPrecautionary measures
Mr Benn told BBC News 24 Sunday the link to the laboratory was a "promising lead", but he added: "We don't know for sure, and therefore it's very important that people continue to be vigilant."
There had been reports of possible foot-and-mouth infection at four other farms, but these had all tested negative for the disease, he said.
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.
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.
In a statement, Defra said: "The present indications are that this strain is a 01 BFS67-like virus, isolated in the 1967 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Great Britain."In a statement, Defra said: "The present indications are that this strain is a 01 BFS67-like virus, isolated in the 1967 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Great Britain."
The strain was used in a vaccine batch manufactured on 16 July by a private pharmaceutical company Merial Animal Health.The strain was used in a vaccine batch manufactured on 16 July by a private pharmaceutical company Merial Animal Health.
The firm shares Pirbright with the government's Institute for Animal Health (IAH), which conducts research into foot-and-mouth and where the strain is also present.The firm shares Pirbright with the government's Institute for Animal Health (IAH), which conducts research into foot-and-mouth and where the strain is also present.
Defra has revised the protection and surveillance zonesEnlarge MapDefra has revised the protection and surveillance zonesEnlarge Map
Merial voluntarily halted vaccine production as a precaution.Merial voluntarily halted vaccine production as a precaution.
BBC science correspondent David Shukman said that if the virus did escape from the Pirbright laboratory, the question to ask was how.BBC science correspondent David Shukman said that if the virus did escape from the Pirbright laboratory, the question to ask was how.
He said: "Like the manufacture of any vaccine to defend against a virus, this one used samples of live virus in the production process.He said: "Like the manufacture of any vaccine to defend against a virus, this one used samples of live virus in the production process.
"Experts speculate that either it escaped through the ventilation or possibly an employee carried it out accidentally on a boot or clothing.""Experts speculate that either it escaped through the ventilation or possibly an employee carried it out accidentally on a boot or clothing."
Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds said it was too soon to say anything conclusive about the source of the virus but it was clear which strain was involved.
"That is carried at the Pirbright facility, at Meriel for vaccine production, and indeed at the Institute for Animal Health, on the same premises on the same location for diagnostic purposes," she said.
Hopeful newsHopeful news
Microbiology expert Hugh Pennington said that if the source was identified as the Pirbright laboratory it could be welcome news.Microbiology expert Hugh Pennington said that if the source was identified as the Pirbright laboratory it could be welcome news.
He said: "If we know exactly where the virus has come from, and particularly if it's a vaccine type of virus, it's less likely to be a nasty virus.He said: "If we know exactly where the virus has come from, and particularly if it's a vaccine type of virus, it's less likely to be a nasty virus.
"We know there isn't uncertainty about the source, so that means there isn't going to be virus in Cumbria or in Scotland, or in Wales from the same source as the virus that has caused this infection in Surrey, it's a localised problem.""We know there isn't uncertainty about the source, so that means there isn't going to be virus in Cumbria or in Scotland, or in Wales from the same source as the virus that has caused this infection in Surrey, it's a localised problem."
The review of biosecurity measures at Pirbright will be led by Professor Brian Spratt of Imperial University, who will report back to Mr Benn. The review of bio security measures at Pirbright will be led by Professor Brian Spratt of Imperial University, who will report back to Mr Benn.
Merial said in a statement: "The decision to suspend production has been taken in full consultation with Defra and will enable Defra to carry out a thorough investigation into all possible sources of this outbreak."
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?
Following the outbreak on the farm a 3km protection zone was put in place around the premises, close to the village of Wanborough, to try to halt the spread of the disease which wreaked havoc across the UK in 2001. Mr Benn also commended Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds for the swift response to the outbreak.
The UK's chief vet has now ordered a single protection zone to encompass both the infected farm premises and the Pirbright site, with a single 10km radius surveillance zone. A revised 3km protection zone now encompasses both the infected farm premises and the Pirbright site, with the surveillance zone extending to a 10km radius.
Mr Benn said: "The lessons of foot-and-mouth in 2001 were in essence that you had to act quickly, you needed to have systems and you needed to follow the science. And that's exactly what we've done."
He pointed to the fact that a ban on animal movements was imposed in about three hours on Friday, as opposed to the three days it took in 2001.
There is also an 8km air exclusion zone around the site.There is also an 8km air exclusion zone around the site.
There has been a cull of one other herd of cattle adjacent to the farm as a precautionary measure but there were no signs of infection in any animals there, Ms Reynolds confirmed.
She appealed to farmers to be vigilant and to check their animals for any sign of foot-and-mouth disease.
Andrew Biggs, of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, said: "It doesn't surprise me greatly. The proximity of this farm to Pirbright was something some of us had noticed."
Paul Temple, of the National Farmers' Union, said he was keeping an open mind over the situation.
HAVE YOUR SAY The outbreak is not the problem. It is the reaction (and response) to it that matters. MB, Edgware Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The outbreak is not the problem. It is the reaction (and response) to it that matters. MB, Edgware Send us your comments
A UK-wide ban on the movement of livestock put in place after foot-and-mouth was confirmed at Wolford farm, near Guildford, on Friday night will continue. Some 64 cattle have since been culled at the infected farm, and there has been a cull of one other herd of cattle adjacent to the farm as a precautionary measure but there were no signs of infection in any animals there, Dr Reynolds confirmed.
Some 64 cattle have since been culled at the farm after testing positive for the foot-and-mouth. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is due to chair a third meeting of Cobra on Sunday morning.
On Saturday evening Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired his second Cobra emergency committee meeting of the day on the issue after he cut short his Dorset holiday to return to London.
He is due to chair another meeting of Cobra on Sunday morning.
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.