ANIMAL LAB MAY HAVE LEAKED FOOT AND MOUTH.Byline: BY FIONNUALA BOURKE A BIOHAZARD bi·o·haz·ard n. 1. A biological agent, such as a virus or a condition that constitutes a threat to humans, especially in biological research or experimentation. 2. alert was flashed last night as it became increasingly certain that Britain's new foot and mouth disease a contagious disease See also: Foot outbreak was caused by a leak from a nearby animal research laboratory. Officials from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the virus detected in infected in·fect tr.v. in·fect·ed, in·fect·ing, in·fects 1. To contaminate with a pathogenic microorganism or agent. 2. To communicate a pathogen or disease to. 3. To invade and produce infection in. cattle on a farm near Guildford was the same as that used at the Pirbright laboratory. Experts had been puzzled because the strain of the virus was not one recently found in animals - but it is an exact match for that being processed at the lab just a few miles away for vaccine. The virus is the one which sparked the 1967 outbreak of foot and mouth which resulted in the slaughter slaughter 1. the killing of animals for the preparation of meat for human consumption. Many methods are used. See also emergency slaughter, captive bolt pistol, carbon dioxide anesthesia, jewish slaughter, muslim slaughter, pithing, puntilla, shechita, sikh slaughter. 2. of 134,000 animals, some of them in Shropshire. Defra immediately increased the size of the protection and surveillance zones covering farms in the area, and police were called in to enforce a ban on all livestock movement within Britain. A department statement read: "The present indications are that this strain is a virus which was isolated in the 1967 foot and mouth disease outbreak in Great Britain Great Britain, officially United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, constitutional monarchy (2005 est. pop. 60,441,000), 94,226 sq mi (244,044 sq km), on the British Isles, off W Europe. The country is often referred to simply as Britain. ." It was being stored at the Pirbright site's Institute of Animal Health and was used in a batch of vaccine manufactured by pharmaceutical company Merial Animal Health just last month. The firm has halted production and an urgent review has been launched into biosecurity arrangements. The Pirbright Laboratory is used as a research facility specialising in diseases affecting cattle, sheep, horses and pigs. It also houses a reference lab which specialises in the diagnosis of diseases including African horse sickness African horse sickness (AHS) is a highly infectious, and deadly disease. It commonly affects horses, mules, donkeys and zebras. It is caused by a virus of the genus Orbivirus belonging to the family Reoviridae. This disease can be caused by any of the nine serotypes of this virus. , Swine vesicular disease Swine vesicular disease (SVD) is an acute, contagious viral disease of swine caused by the swine vesicular disease virus, an enterovirus. It is characterized by fever and vesicles with subsequent ulcers in the mouth and on the snout, feet, and teats. - and foot and mouth disease. Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Debby Reynolds For the American Academy Award-nominated actress, dancer and singer with a similar name, see . Debby Reynolds is the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of the United Kingdom and for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). said a number of further potential cases had been reported following the discovery of the virus on the farm close to the village of Wanborough. One was believed to be at a farm shop some miles away. Around 60 animals on the farm tested positive for the virus on Friday, and were being rounded up and killed last night. Defra has imposed a 10 kilometre security area around the site. Meanwhile, a nationwide ban on the movement of all sheep, cattle and pigs has been put in place and there is a voluntary export ban on all animals and animal products. In Lancashire, police began patrolling rural areas to ensure farmers did not attempt to sneak livestock out. A total of 1,625,652 of cows, pigs and sheep were killed in Britain during the last outbreak in 2001. Nearly 230,000 of them were slaughtered in the Midlands. Farmers in the region greeted the news that foot and mouth had returned with dread last night. David Collier This article is about the English sports administrator. For the professor of Services Management, see David A. Collier. David Collier became the second chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) when he was appointed in October 2004, , West Midlands West Midlands, former metropolitan county, central England. Created in the 1974 local government reorganization, the county embraced the Birmingham conurbation and comprised seven metropolitan districts: Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Birmingham, Solihull, Regional Director for the National Farmers' Union, said extra staff had been drafted in this weekend to advise members. And he said scores of animals were being impounded at agricultural shows An Agricultural Show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with the occupations of agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest of these comprise a Livestock show and markets across the region to prevent the risk of the disease spreading. "I felt a sense of dread as soon as I heard the news on Friday night," said Mr Collier. "At the moment we are concentrating on preventing animal movement. We are also urging members with livestock to carefully inspect their animals to ensure they are OK. "Extra precautions precautions Infectious disease The constellation of activities intended to minimize exposure to an infectious agent; precautions imply that the isolation of an infected Pt is optional, but not mandatory. are being taken at local agricultural shows and markets. There are cattle at Oswestry which cannot be moved, and 70 sheep which should have travelled to Worcester for market on Friday afternoon. "We have arranged for someone to be on hand in the office all weekend to advise members. We will constantly be monitoring events." Dairy farmer Rob Chilman, from Tibberton, near Droitwich, Worcestershire, said news of the outbreak brought back painful memories. He won a battle to stop his animals being culled during the last outbreak of the disease in 2001. Mr Chilman told the Mercury: "I'm obviously very concerned at the news. Hopefully, they will contain the problem this time. "We have all been told to stop any movement of livestock and to listen out for updates." fionnualabourke@mrn.co.uk CAPTION(S): INFECTED: (below) Pirbright laboratory and the cattle on the farm near Guildford.; HOUTBREAK: the farm and nearby police notices closing footpaths surrounding it |
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