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TheCattleSite Foot and Mouth Disease News
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Print This Page FMD outbreak lab 'should stay shut'
UK - Angry farmers affected by the foot-and-mouth outbreak have said that the Government's Pirbright facility, blamed for leaking the disease, should not continue operating until the source is found.A number said they had lost thousands of pounds as a result of the restrictions on movement of animals after the infection struck two farms in Surrey five weeks ago.
The farmers were speaking after two reports by the Health and Safety Executive and Professor Brian Spratt, said the outbreak originated from the Pirbright site, which is home to commercial laboratory Merial and the Institute of Animal Health.
The group, including Roger Pride, whose beef cattle were the first herd to be culled, met shadow environment, food and rural affairs secretary Peter Ainsworth at a farm in Shackleford, Surrey, to discuss the reports.
They demanded answers from the Government as to how the virus could have escaped the security at the site.
Mr Ainsworth, who is the MP for East Surrey, said there had been "a systematic failure" in the biosecurity arrangements at Pirbright.
He added that, although staff are required to disinfect themselves when they are coming and going from the site, it is like shutting all the windows to keep the cold out but leaving the front door open.
Mr Pride said he wanted to read the report in full before making any comment, but said there had been a "cock-up" in the way Defra had handled some matters.
He said he is hoping to reopen his farm shop business in Elstead, Surrey, which he had to close down after his cattle, grazing on land seven miles away at Normandy, were confirmed as having the disease.
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Source: Guardian Unlimited
