HSE Investigations Into Foot-And-Mouth Outbreak Continue
UK - investigations into the cause of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, linked to possible biosecurity breaches at the Pirbright research centre in Surrey, continued this week.
17 August 2007
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The inspectors are doing what they have to do, but my guess is that they know no more than they did at the beginning of last week
Merial spokesman.
A spokesman from Merial, the pharmaceutical company at the centre of the inquiry, said the Health and Safety Executive investigation was on-going. However, as Farmers Guardian went to press the results were not in sight.
“There are groups on the site continuing with their investigations. We don’t know when they are going to release their reports, but I hope they will be based on scientific certainty.
“We have no evidence whatsoever of any negligence. The inspectors are doing what they have to do, but my guess is that they know no more than they did at the beginning of last week,” said a Merial spokesman.
Rumours at Merial suggested the results of the HSE investigation would not be out until August 20.
With no hard evidence as to how the virus may have leaked from the Pirbright site, speculation remained rife and centred on a stream that runs between the two infected farms in Surrey.
