Human Error Could Have Been the Cause of the FMD Outbreak

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Monday, 06 August 2007

Government officials believe human error at the private pharmaceutical firm Merial Animal Health is the most likely source for the return of foot and mouth disease, it emerged last night.

As health and safety inspectors began examining the firm's laboratories at Pirbright in Surrey, Whitehall sources suggested the potential biosecurity lapse would amount to a breach of procedures rather than negligence, which could give rise to criminal charges.

Senior officials believe the virus may have been transported by an individual or by a car from the research complex to the farm at the centre of the outbreak, about four miles away. If the virus had been airborne, it is difficult to explain why other herds closer to the site were not first affected, sources told the Guardian.

Source The Guardian via www.soilassociation.org. To read full article goto http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2142431,00.html