Foot-and-mouth sabotage theory

Investigations into the foot-and-mouth outbreak are focusing on possible sabotage.Experts are looking at whether the virus was deliberately spread from one of two animal research centres in Surrey and the National Farmers' Union is talking to lawyers about a possible legal challenge if a commercial company is to blame.A preliminary report by the Health and Safety Executive concluded that there were various potential routes for "accidental or deliberate transfer of material from the site".It said: "We have investigated site management systems and records and spoken to a number of employees. As a result we are pursuing lines of inquiry."Release by human movement must also be considered a real possibility. Further investigation of the above issues is required and is being urgently pursued."Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has admitted the Government has to look at the possibility the outbreak in Surrey was the result of deliberate human contamination.Speaking after the publication of the report, he said: "The truth is, we don't know. We're all very very anxious."Mr Benn has announced that the possibility the strain had been released by human movement will be investigated further as "a matter of urgency", and said he has asked for another report as soon as possible.He has agreed a recommendation by the Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds that footpaths in the original protection zone which covers the two infected farms, be closed with immediate effect.More culling could also take place if there were clinical signs of the disease. He added that Ms Reynolds had ordered a large amount of vaccine and that vaccination remained an option.The HSE's preliminary findings said there is a "strong possibility" that the Pirbright laboratory facility was the source of the foot and mouth outbreak.It did not specify whether Merial Animal Health or the Institute of Animal Health (IAH), both on the site, was responsible for the outbreak, and concluded the chances it was caused by flooding or aerial transmission were "negligible".In a statement, Merial Animal Health said: "Following the announcement of the independent report's finding, Merial is assessing the information contained. We will communicate further as soon as possible."Professor Martin Shirley, director of the Institute for Animal Health, said: "The institute is obviously concerned about the lack of unambiguous evidence at this stage of what has happened and will continue to review our own biosecurity systems as new data becomes available and will continue to work closely with HSE and with the Spratt inquiry."Meanwhile, according to reports, abattoirs look set to start laying off workers."I think this will be the final nail in the coffin for a lot of places like us if they don't allow us to start killing before the end of the week," Roger Carr, owner of Simply Halal abattoir near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, said."We've got people with mortgages that are worried to death this morning," he added.Abattoirs have been calling for movement to be resumed under special license direct from farms to abattoirs, a step taken on Tuesday by Scotland's devolved government.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | August 8, 2007

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