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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Legionnaires' probe at Pirbright | Legionnaires' probe at Pirbright |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A reported case of Legionnaires' disease linked to the Pirbright laboratory site in Surrey is being investigated by officials. | |
| The Health Protection Agency confirmed that the probe related to the Institute of Animal Health, which is on the site. | The Health Protection Agency confirmed that the probe related to the Institute of Animal Health, which is on the site. |
| The Health and Safety Executive has said there is a "strong probability" that the recent foot and mouth outbreak began at Pirbright. | The Health and Safety Executive has said there is a "strong probability" that the recent foot and mouth outbreak began at Pirbright. |
| Restrictions on taking animals to abattoirs have been lifted. | Restrictions on taking animals to abattoirs have been lifted. |
| The Institute was carrying out all necessary maintenance and monitoring work Health Protection Agency statement Legionnaires' disease | |
| 'Necessary maintenance' | 'Necessary maintenance' |
| It is thought that the Legionnaires' case pre-dates the outbreak of foot and mouth. | It is thought that the Legionnaires' case pre-dates the outbreak of foot and mouth. |
| A statement from the HPA said its early findings indicated that an individual linked with Legionnaires had been working at the ISO10 building on the Pirbright site. | A statement from the HPA said its early findings indicated that an individual linked with Legionnaires had been working at the ISO10 building on the Pirbright site. |
| "These findings, backed up by temperature monitoring in the same area, suggested that the Institute was carrying out all necessary maintenance and monitoring work in compliance with the Approved Code of Practice for the control of Legionella," it continued. | "These findings, backed up by temperature monitoring in the same area, suggested that the Institute was carrying out all necessary maintenance and monitoring work in compliance with the Approved Code of Practice for the control of Legionella," it continued. |
| Investigators were examining where the patient had visited in the 10-14 days prior to falling ill, including their home, workplace and anywhere else they may have travelled to. | Investigators were examining where the patient had visited in the 10-14 days prior to falling ill, including their home, workplace and anywhere else they may have travelled to. |
| The statement added that results of tests carried out on further samples are still being awaited. | The statement added that results of tests carried out on further samples are still being awaited. |
| Legionnaires' Disease is caused by a bacterium that causes flu-like symptoms if it is converted into aerosol form from a water - for instance, in showers or spas - and then inhaled. | |
| Still banned | |
| A European Union export ban on British meat and livestock remains in place. | |
| Culling has been ordered on a third farm, next to the second farm already affected, on suspicion that the disease could be developing there. | |
| The first cases of foot-and-mouth were found in cattle at Woolford Farm, near Guildford, on Friday and a second outbreak was confirmed at a farm on Monday. Cattle in both cases have been culled. | |
| Many movements of livestock, such as sending animals to market, are still banned. | |
| Some restrictions had already been lifted in Scotland and Wales. | |
| Health inspectors are looking into the possibility that the disease was originally transferred by employees at vaccine manufacturer Merial, based just a few miles from the farms at the Pirbright site. | |
| Criticism | |
| Both Merial and Institute of Animal Health had been using the strain of the virus, but the HSE did not specify which of the two was to blame. | |
| It is understood, however, that investigations have discovered a link between problems with drainage and the possible actions, accidental or deliberate, of Merial employees who may use nearby allotments. | |
| Merial said it had conducted "intensive internal investigations" and had "complete confidence" in its processes and procedures. | |
| It confirmed one of its employees had accompanied investigators to an allotment but said there was "no evidence linking this member of staff to the outbreak". | |
| At a meeting in Brussels, EU veterinary and food safety experts decided emergency measures banning all British exports of meat, milk products and live animals would remain in place until 25 August. | |
| The committee will meet again on 23 August. | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown chaired another meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday evening to discuss the outbreak. | |
| Following criticism from some farmers and opposition parties, all footpaths within the 3km (1.8 mile) protection zone around the affected farms in Surrey have been closed. | |
| A 10km (6.2 miles) surveillance zone is also in place. |