Laboratory Disease 'Leak' Probed

An animal health facility in Surrey is suspected of being the source of a "probable" new leak of the foot-and-mouth virus.

In a written statement, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said the "internal" leak happened at the Merial laboratory at Pirbright.

Howver, 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.

In his statement, Mr Benn said it was "possible that live FMD virus had entered the contained drainage system" but he added that - from evidence gathered by inspectors - "they are assured that live virus has not been released."

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed that there will be no new livestock movement restrictions as a result of the latest suspected leak.

Merial shares the Pirbright site with the government's Institute for Animal Health and both facilities formed the focus for investigations into the previous foot-and-mouth outbreaks in Surrey in August.

Farming Minister Lord Rooker reiterated that there had been no escape of the disease from the Pirbright site and said there was no cause for panic.

"There's been no escape of foot and mouth. Something happened in the production process which was reported to us on Tuesday and full engineering work was done."

He added that the virus had only gone into the new drainage system and was picked up by checks on the first week of new production of the vaccine.

Defra has suspended Merial's licence and this will remain suspended while inspectors produce a full report.

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.

(BMcC)