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2007 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak

From Wikipedia, in a visual modern way
The geographical area affected by foot-and-mouth outbreaks around the Pirbright laboratory sites in 2007.
The geographical area affected by foot-and-mouth outbreaks around the Pirbright laboratory sites in 2007.

The 2007 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak occurred when the discharge of infectious effluent from a laboratory in Surrey led to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) infections at four nearby farms. The infections were detected via regular livestock testing by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The first diagnosis took place in a field of Normandy, Surrey; the second was three days later in a cattle-rotation field of a farm in Elstead, and the following day a third infection was found nearby within a quickly-established protection zone around the first detection. One month and ten days after the first diagnosis a final incidence of 2007 was identified and dealt with 13 miles (21 km) north of the first diseased animal. The source of the strain released and contained in Surrey in 2007 was the advanced effluent pipes from either the Institute for Animal Health or the similar vaccine researching and producing Merial Animal Health laboratory near to Pirbright village in the county. An inspection of the effluent pipes and manholes carried out by Health and Safety Executive investigators showed deficiencies, and the independent investigation of Brian Spratt concluded that it was very likely that they occasionally leaked still-infectious effluent at the time of the outbreak. Both laboratories, either of which may have been the cause, upgraded and repaired their effluent treatment systems to continue operation. The UK government provided compensation for the farmers directly involved.

These interrelated and contained events prompted precautionary measures of restricted-access containment zones in three counties where suspected infections were reported and major international trading partners such as Canada and the Republic of Ireland placed temporary restrictions on meat and dairy exports.

Discover more about 2007 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak related topics

Effluent

Effluent

Effluent is wastewater from sewers or industrial outfalls that flows directly into surface waters either untreated or after being treated at a facility. The term has slightly different meanings in certain contexts, and may contain various pollutants depending on the source. Treating wastewater efficiently is challenging, but improved technology allows for enhanced removal of specific materials, increased re-use of water, and energy production from waste.

Surrey

Surrey

Surrey is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, to the southwest of Greater London. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. With a population of approximately 1.2 million people, Surrey is the 12th-most populous county in England. The most populated town in Surrey is Woking, followed by Guildford.

Foot-and-mouth disease

Foot-and-mouth disease

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) or hoof-and-mouth disease (HMD) is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids. The virus causes a high fever lasting two to six days, followed by blisters inside the mouth and near the hoof that may rupture and cause lameness.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom. Concordats set out agreed frameworks for co operation, between it and the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive, which have devolved responsibilities for these matters in their respective nations.

Normandy, Surrey

Normandy, Surrey

Normandy is a civil parish of 16.37 square kilometres in the borough of Guildford in Surrey, England and the name of the largest village in that parish. Almost surrounded by its hill ranges, Normandy is in the plain west of Guildford, straddles the A323 'Aldershot Road' and is north of the narrowest part the North Downs known as the Hog's Back which carries a dual carriageway. The parish in 2011 had a population of 2,981 living in 1,310 households, has woods, a public common and four government-operated commons to the north that are an SSSI heath. Normandy has been home to a number of notable residents, including William Cobbett.

Elstead

Elstead

Elstead is a civil parish in Surrey, England with shops, houses and cottages spanning the north and south sides of the River Wey; development is concentrated on two roads that meet at a central green. It includes Pot Common its southern neighbourhood. Hamlets in the parish, marginally separated from the village centre, are Charleshill and Elstead Common, both rich in woodland. Elstead lies between Farnham and Godalming on the B3001 road about 2.2 miles (3.6 km) west of the A3 Milford interchange.

Pirbright

Pirbright

Pirbright is a village in Surrey, England. Pirbright is in the borough of Guildford and has a civil parish council covering the traditional boundaries of the area. Pirbright contains one buffered sub-locality, Stanford Common near the nation's farm animal disease research institute. The village's grade II* listed medieval church has a large Boulder grave for explorer Henry Morton Stanley. The nearby Hodge Brook is marked as Congo Stream, between Ruwenzori and Stanley Hills.

Health and Safety Executive

Health and Safety Executive

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a UK government agency responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in Great Britain. It is a non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom with its headquarters in Bootle, England. In Northern Ireland, these duties lie with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland. The HSE was created by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and has since absorbed earlier regulatory bodies such as the Factory Inspectorate and the Railway Inspectorate though the Railway Inspectorate was transferred to the Office of Rail and Road in April 2006. The HSE is sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. As part of its work, HSE investigates industrial accidents, small and large, including major incidents such as the explosion and fire at Buncefield in 2005. Though it formerly reported to the Health and Safety Commission, on 1 April 2008, the two bodies merged.

Effluent decontamination system

Effluent decontamination system

An effluent decontamination system (EDS) is a device, or suite of devices, designed to decontaminate or sterilise biologically active or biohazardous materials in fluid and liquid waste material. Facility types that may utilise an EDS include hospitals, food and beverage industry plants, research laboratories, agricultural and animal research facilities, pharmaceutical production facilities, and governmental or military facilities... In fact, all facilities in the United States of America that produce liquid waste of Biosafety Level 2 and above must decontaminate their waste before discharging it into a public sewer system Examples of liquids sterilised in an EDS include the shower water from personnel decontamination rooms, and the waste water from washing down animal rooms in laboratory environments.

Canada

Canada

Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's second-largest country by total area, with the world's longest coastline. It is characterized by a wide range of both meteorologic and geological regions. The country is sparsely inhabited, with most residing south of the 55th parallel in urban areas. Canada's capital is Ottawa and its three largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern side of the island. Around 2.1 million of the country's population of 5.13 million people reside in the Greater Dublin Area. The sovereign state shares its only land border with Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. It is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the Celtic Sea to the south, St George's Channel to the south-east, and the Irish Sea to the east. It is a unitary, parliamentary republic. The legislature, the Oireachtas, consists of a lower house, Dáil Éireann; an upper house, Seanad Éireann; and an elected President who serves as the largely ceremonial head of state, but with some important powers and duties. The head of government is the Taoiseach, who is elected by the Dáil and appointed by the President; the Taoiseach in turn appoints other government ministers.

Background

The United Kingdom was affected in 1967 by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. The outbreak was limited to an area on the Welsh border with Shropshire. The subsequent 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth crisis spread more broadly and caused a national crisis for British agriculture and tourism.[1] The epizootic saw 2,000 cases of the disease in farms in most of the British countryside. Livestock farmers' losses and their interest subsequently remained of public interest, and a negative testing in January 2007 in Northern Ireland received BBC local headline coverage.[2]

Discover more about Background related topics

1967 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak

1967 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak

The 1967 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak was a major outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom. The only centre of the disease, in contrast to the three concentrated areas in the 2001 crisis, was on the Wales border with Shropshire. France and other European countries were also affected by the crisis.

England–Wales border

England–Wales border

The England–Wales border, sometimes referred to as the Wales–England border or the Anglo-Welsh border, runs for 160 miles (260 km) from the Dee estuary, in the north, to the Severn estuary in the south, separating England and Wales.

Shropshire

Shropshire

Shropshire is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to the north, Staffordshire to the east, Worcestershire to the southeast, and Herefordshire to the south. A unitary authority of the same name was created in 2009, taking over from the previous county council and five district councils, now governed by Shropshire Council. The borough of Telford and Wrekin has been a separate unitary authority since 1998, but remains part of the ceremonial county.

Epizootic

Epizootic

In epizoology, an epizootic is a disease event in a nonhuman animal population analogous to an epidemic in humans. An epizootic disease may occur in a specific locale, more generally, or become widespread ("panzootic"). High population-density is a major contributing factor to epizootics. The aquaculture industry is sometimes plagued by disease because of the large number of fish confined to a small area.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares an open border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland. In 2021, its population was 1,903,100, making up about 27% of Ireland's population and about 3% of the UK's population. The Northern Ireland Assembly, established by the Northern Ireland Act 1998, holds responsibility for a range of devolved policy matters, while other areas are reserved for the UK Government. The government of Northern Ireland cooperates with the government of the Republic of Ireland in several areas agreed under the terms of the Belfast Agreement. The Republic of Ireland also has a consultative role on non-devolved governmental matters through the British-Irish Governmental Conference (BIIG).

BBC

BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom, based at Broadcasting House in London, England. It is the world's oldest national broadcaster, and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees, employing over 21,000 staff in total, of whom approximately 17,900 are in public-sector broadcasting.

Disease outbreak

Initial reports

The field in which the infected cattle were grazing immediately before testing positive for foot-and-mouth disease.
The field in which the infected cattle were grazing immediately before testing positive for foot-and-mouth disease.

Symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease were first reported late on 2 August 2007 on farmland in Normandy in Surrey, which was subsequently isolated and placed under restrictions.[3][4][5] The site was a field for beef fattening rented by Derrick and Roger Pride.[6][7] The following day the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) Debby Reynolds confirmed that initial testing revealed that 60 cattle were infected with foot-and-mouth disease and[8][9] that other potential cases were being investigated.[10]

The virus strain was identified on 4 August as FMDV BFS 1860 O1 1967 (Foot-and-mouth disease virus, British field strain 1860, serotype O, subtype 1, isolated in 1967; also referred to as strain BFS 1860/UK/67[11]). The virus was first isolated during the 1967 foot-and-mouth outbreak and until the 2007 outbreak was not in circulation in animals.[12] It was the same strain as used at the nearby Pirbright laboratory sites that housed separate units of the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) and Merial Animal Health Ltd at Pirbright, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) away.

The Institute of Animal Health at Pirbright carried out research into foot-and-mouth disease as well as other diseases affecting livestock.[13] The Merial Animal Health site was also identified as a possible source of the infection, as they were one of four European laboratories authorised to handle the strain to produce vaccines. The next closest laboratory working with the strain was in Belgium.[14][15][16] As a result of the location of the two Pirbright laboratory sites, the isolation zone was extended.[17]

Another protection zone was created on 5 August near Elstead after a cow at one of the two other locations used by the farm tested positive. The herd at both locations had already been slaughtered the previous day as a standard precautionary measure.[18] Another herd the next day within one of the protection zones showing symptoms of FMD was slaughtered on suspicion. Samples underwent analysis[19] and the next day FMD was confirmed on a farm in Surrey within the protection zone. The cows were on land owned by the farmer Lawrence Matthews who rented grazing to a neighbouring producer.[20]

Laboratory concerns

Pirbright Institute, laboratory site at Baker's Gate in 2005.
Pirbright Institute, laboratory site at Baker's Gate in 2005.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) issued a report on 7 August titled "Initial report on potential breaches to biosecurity at the Pirbright site, 2007"[21] which contained the following comments:

"Subject to the ongoing work detailed above, the indications are that there is a strong probability that the FMDV strain involved in the farm outbreak originated from the IAH or the Merial sites."
"We are further exploring the meteorological data, but at this stage, we consider there to be a negligible combined likelihood that there was an airborne release from the IAH or the Merial sites which was subsequently transferred to the first affected farm between 14 and 25 July 2007."
"Waterborne release onto the site remains a possibility. But preliminary investigations into the possibility of whether surface water from flooding from the site could have reached and contaminated the affected farm have indicated that this was negligible due to the distance, topography and direction of flow. These issues are being investigated further."
"Release by human movement must also be considered a real possibility. Further investigation of the above issues is required and is being urgently pursued."

The Pirbright site has been the source of foot-and-mouth outbreaks before – in 1970 the virus escaped from the experimental area into a holding pen elsewhere on the site. Eighteen animals had to be destroyed.[22]

Later cases

Foot-and-mouth disease protection zone by Ashford, Surrey in 2007.
Foot-and-mouth disease protection zone by Ashford, Surrey in 2007.

A farmer who left the land at the site of the initial outbreaks reported on 9 August some of his cows to Defra as a precautionary measure. A 3 km (2 mile) temporary control zone was established,[23][24] and then removed,[25] on 11 August when negative test results were returned. Three further potential outbreaks were investigated during August, at a farm elsewhere in Surrey; at the Chessington World of Adventures zoo; and at a farm near Romney in Kent. All three tested negative for foot and mouth.[26] Following a lack of further outbreaks since the initial discovery, Defra lifted on 24 August the protection zones around the farms.[27] The surveillance zone was removed on 8 September. A 5 km (3 mile) radius biosecurity area remained in place longer around the Pirbright laboratories.[28]

A new case of foot and mouth was identified on 12 September at Milton Park Farm near Egham in the county, 30 miles (48 km) north of the original case.[29][30] A 3 km (2 mile) radius protection zone and a 10 km (6 mile) radius surveillance zone was established around the farm.[31] A sick sheep found earlier during the day in Scotland at a Lanarkshire market was later found to be negative.[32] Separately, a temporary control zone was put around a premise in Norfolk as a precautionary measure following a veterinary visit.[33] Laboratory results for these animals were also negative and so the local restrictions were lifted the next evening.[34]

Discover more about Disease outbreak related topics

Beef cattle

Beef cattle

Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production. The meat of mature or almost mature cattle is mostly known as beef. In beef production there are three main stages: cow-calf operations, backgrounding, and feedlot operations. The production cycle of the animals starts at cow-calf operations; this operation is designed specifically to breed cows for their offspring. From here the calves are backgrounded for a feedlot. Animals grown specifically for the feedlot are known as feeder cattle, the goal of these animals is fattening. Animals not grown for a feedlot are typically female and are commonly known as replacement heifers. While the principal use of beef cattle is meat production, other uses include leather, and beef by-products used in candy, shampoo, cosmetics, and insulin.

Chief Veterinary Officer (United Kingdom)

Chief Veterinary Officer (United Kingdom)

The Chief Veterinary Officer is an official in the British government, who is head of veterinary services in the United Kingdom. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland also each have a Chief Veterinary Officer.

Debby Reynolds

Debby Reynolds

Deborah Reynolds CB served as the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of the United Kingdom from March 2004 until she retired in November 2007. She is usually referred to as Debby Reynolds, or less often as Deborah Reynolds.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus

Foot-and-mouth disease virus

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is the pathogen that causes foot-and-mouth disease. It is a picornavirus, the prototypical member of the genus Aphthovirus. The disease, which causes vesicles (blisters) in the mouth and feet of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals is highly infectious and a major plague of animal farming.

1967 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak

1967 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak

The 1967 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak was a major outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom. The only centre of the disease, in contrast to the three concentrated areas in the 2001 crisis, was on the Wales border with Shropshire. France and other European countries were also affected by the crisis.

Belgium

Belgium

Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest. It covers an area of 30,528 km2 (11,787 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.5 million, making it the 22nd most densely populated country in the world and the 6th most densely populated country in Europe, with a density of 376/km2 (970/sq mi). Belgium is part of an area known as the Low Countries, historically a somewhat larger region than the Benelux group of states, as it also included parts of northern France. The capital and largest city is Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges, Namur, and Leuven.

Elstead

Elstead

Elstead is a civil parish in Surrey, England with shops, houses and cottages spanning the north and south sides of the River Wey; development is concentrated on two roads that meet at a central green. It includes Pot Common its southern neighbourhood. Hamlets in the parish, marginally separated from the village centre, are Charleshill and Elstead Common, both rich in woodland. Elstead lies between Farnham and Godalming on the B3001 road about 2.2 miles (3.6 km) west of the A3 Milford interchange.

Biosecurity

Biosecurity

Biosecurity refers to measures aimed at preventing the introduction and/or spread of harmful organisms to animals and plants in order to minimize the risk of transmission of infectious disease. In agriculture, these measures are aimed at protecting food crops and livestock from pests, invasive species, and other organisms not conducive to the welfare of the human population. The term includes biological threats to people, including those from pandemic diseases and bioterrorism. The definition has sometimes been broadened to embrace other concepts, and it is used for different purposes in different contexts.

Airborne transmission

Airborne transmission

Airborne transmission or aerosol transmission is transmission of an infectious disease through small particles suspended in the air. Infectious diseases capable of airborne transmission include many of considerable importance both in human and veterinary medicine. The relevant infectious agent may be viruses, bacteria, or fungi, and they may be spread through breathing, talking, coughing, sneezing, raising of dust, spraying of liquids, flushing toilets, or any activities which generate aerosol particles or droplets. This is the transmission of diseases via transmission of an infectious agent, and does not include diseases caused by air pollution.

Ashford, Surrey

Ashford, Surrey

Ashford is a town in Surrey, England, 14 mi (23 km) west of central London. Its name derives from a crossing point of the River Ash, a distributary of the River Colne. Historically part of Middlesex, the town has been part of Surrey since 1965. Ashford consists of relatively low density low- and medium-rise buildings, none of them being high rise. If excluding apartments most houses are semi-detached.

Chessington World of Adventures

Chessington World of Adventures

Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park, zoo and hotel complex in Chessington, Greater London, England, around 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Central London. The complex opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, with the theme park being developed alongside the zoo by The Tussauds Group and opening on 7 July 1987, as one of the first themed amusement parks in Britain. The theme park, which features over 40 rides, is now owned by Merlin Entertainments, following its merger with The Tussauds Group in 2007. Under Merlin, Chessington has been increasingly developed into a resort tourist destination, including two on-site hotels, a high ropes course and camp site.

Egham

Egham

Egham is a university town in the Borough of Runnymede in Surrey, England, approximately 19 miles (31 km) west of central London. First settled in the Bronze Age, the town was under the control of Chertsey Abbey for much of the Middle Ages. In 1215, Magna Carta was sealed by King John at Runnymede, to the north of Egham, having been chosen for its proximity to the King's residence at Windsor. Under the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the early 16th Century, the major, formerly ecclesiastical, manorial freehold interests in the town and various market revenues passed to the Crown.

Precautions

One of the many footpaths closed in an attempt to stop the virus's spread.
One of the many footpaths closed in an attempt to stop the virus's spread.

All livestock at the three geographically separate locations were destroyed on 4 August. A nationwide ban on the movement of cattle and pigs was imposed, with a 3 km (1.9 mi) protection zone in place around the affected farm and a further 10 km (6.2 mi) zone of cattle surveillance.[10] An 8 km (5.0 mi) aerial exclusion zone was set up around the site.[35]

As required by European Union regulations, all exports of animal and meat products of species affected by the outbreak were halted from the United Kingdom.[36]

A net total of 2160 animals were culled in the affected zones over the 58 day outbreak period (982 cattle, 1128 pigs, 43 sheep and seven goats). The total cost of containment and livestock loss came to a total of £47 million. This compares to a total loss of around £3 billion and the culling of around four million animals (85% sheep, 12% cattle, 3% pigs) during the 2001 outbreak which lasted for 221 days.[36]

Reaction

Political reaction

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn returned to London early from their holidays.[8] Welsh Minister for Rural Affairs Elin Jones cut short her holiday to New Zealand,[37] and opposition leader David Cameron also cancelled his holiday in Brittany. A COBRA meeting took place shortly before the official announcement, with the Prime Minister participating on a telephone link.[8]

Scientific reaction

On the prospect of the virus coming from one of the Pirbright establishments, emeritus professor of bacteriology Hugh Pennington said "If we know exactly where the virus has come from, and particularly if it's a vaccine type of virus, it's less likely to be a nasty virus."[38] King, a former head of molecular biology at the IAH, said "As far as I am concerned the authorities have failed to find any chink in the armoury of the establishment’s bio-security. What you are left with is human movement, which is not a matter for the institute, it’s a police matter. It’s very, very unlikely that it could be spread by accident. People do not spread the disease easily."[39]

International reaction

Following the confirmation of the outbreak, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland closed all of their ports to livestock, fresh meat and non-pasteurised milk imports, and ordered disinfectant measures to be put in place at ports and airports all over the island.[40][41] Canada blocked the entry of any livestock from the United Kingdom (which included Northern Ireland) into the country, and Japan and the United States blocked the entry of pigs and pig products. British beef was already banned in both of these countries.[42]

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Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown

James Gordon Brown is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in Tony Blair's government from 1997 to 2007, and was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1983 to 2015, first for Dunfermline East and later for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath. Brown is the most recent Labour politician as well as the most recent Scottish politician to hold the office of prime minister.

Hilary Benn

Hilary Benn

Hilary James Wedgwood Benn is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds Central since a by-election in 1999. He served in the Cabinet from 2003 to 2010, under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He also served as Shadow Foreign Secretary from 2015 to 2016 and as Chairman of the Brexit Select Committee from 2016 to 2021.

London

London

London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for two millennia. The City of London, its ancient core and financial centre, was founded by the Romans as Londinium and retains its medieval boundaries. The City of Westminster, to the west of the City of London, has for centuries hosted the national government and parliament. Since the 19th century, the name "London" has also referred to the metropolis around this core, historically split between the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, Kent, and Hertfordshire, which since 1965 has largely comprised Greater London, which is governed by 33 local authorities and the Greater London Authority.

Elin Jones

Elin Jones

Elin Jones is a Welsh politician who has served as the Llywydd of the Senedd since 2016. A member of Plaid Cymru, Jones has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Ceredigion since 1999.

David Cameron

David Cameron

David William Donald Cameron is a former British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016. He previously served as Leader of the Opposition from 2005 to 2010, and was Member of Parliament (MP) for Witney from 2001 to 2016. He identifies as a one-nation conservative, and has been associated with both economically liberal and socially liberal policies.

Brittany

Brittany

Brittany is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period of Roman occupation. It became an independent kingdom and then a duchy before being united with the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province governed as a separate nation under the crown.

Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms

Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms

The Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR) are meeting rooms in the Cabinet Office in London. These rooms are used for committees which co-ordinate the actions of government bodies in response to national or regional crises, or during overseas events with major implications for the UK. It is popularly referred to as COBRA.

Bacteriology

Bacteriology

Bacteriology is the branch and specialty of biology that studies the morphology, ecology, genetics and biochemistry of bacteria as well as many other aspects related to them. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species. Because of the similarity of thinking and working with microorganisms other than bacteria, such as protozoa, fungi, and viruses, there has been a tendency for the field of bacteriology to extend as microbiology. The terms were formerly often used interchangeably. However, bacteriology can be classified as a distinct science.

Hugh Pennington

Hugh Pennington

Thomas Hugh Pennington, CBE, FRCPath, FRCP (Edin), FMedSci, FRSE is emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Outside academia, he is best known as the chair of the Pennington Group enquiry into the Scottish Escherichia coli outbreak of 1996 and as Chairman of the Public Inquiry into the 2005 Outbreak of E. coli O157 in South Wales.

Chink in one's armor

Chink in one's armor

The idiom "chink in one's armor" refers to an area of vulnerability. It has traditionally been used to refer to a weak spot in a figurative suit of armor. The standard meaning is similar to that of Achilles' heel.

Canada

Canada

Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's second-largest country by total area, with the world's longest coastline. It is characterized by a wide range of both meteorologic and geological regions. The country is sparsely inhabited, with most residing south of the 55th parallel in urban areas. Canada's capital is Ottawa and its three largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Japan

Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north toward the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, and Taiwan in the south. Japan is a part of the Ring of Fire, and spans an archipelago of 14,125 islands, with the five main islands being Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa. Tokyo is the nation's capital and largest city, followed by Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kobe, and Kyoto.

Investigation

Analysis of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) sequence data from 2007 United Kingdom FMD outbreak.
Analysis of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) sequence data from 2007 United Kingdom FMD outbreak.

A report into the epidemic was released on 5 September 2007. It reported that traces of the virus were found in a pipe at the Pirbright institute running from Merial to the government's treatment plant. It is thought that tree roots damaged the pipe allowing the virus to the surface. The report hypothesises that site workmen conveyed the virus to the Normandy farm en route home from work.[43][44]

An independent investigation carried out by Brian Spratt found that due to the recognition that infected material could survive the initial citric acid disinfection stage within the Merial plant, the effluent system up to the final caustic soda treatment plant was considered by Defra inspectors to be within the scope of Containment Level 4, yet it appeared not to have been subject to regular inspection and there was evidence of leakage both from broken pipework and via unsealed, overflowing manholes:

23. The possibility of infectious virus being discharged to the effluent pipes was recognised by the Defra inspectors and, for this reason, the drainage system that leads to the caustic soda final treatment plant is considered part of Category 4 containment at Pirbright. It must therefore be well maintained and contained, so that infectious virus in effluent cannot escape.

32. The effluent pipes from IAH and Merial to the caustic soda final treatment plant are old and appear not to have been subject to regular thorough inspections to ensure their integrity. An inspection of the effluent pipes and manholes carried out for the HSE team showed deficiencies and it is considered very likely that they leak effluent. The effluent pipes are therefore not contained, as they should be as part of Category 4 containment at Pirbright.

— Professor Brian Spratt, Independent Review of the safety of UK facilities handling foot and mouth disease virus

In May 2008 the Surrey County Council, who has the authority to prosecute when there is negligence, found prosecution nonviable and wrote:

The county council's external legal advice is that a prosecution against either of the two laboratories at the centre of the outbreak is not possible. This was because:

Three Government-commissioned reports were unable to pinpoint the exact source of the outbreak

The council may not have been able to prove beyond doubt whether the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) licence conditions had been breached. This was particularly because the two laboratories shared the drainage systems under those conditions.

— Surrey County Council, No prosecutions over Pirbright foot and mouth leak 29 May 2008

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Foot-and-mouth disease virus

Foot-and-mouth disease virus

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is the pathogen that causes foot-and-mouth disease. It is a picornavirus, the prototypical member of the genus Aphthovirus. The disease, which causes vesicles (blisters) in the mouth and feet of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals is highly infectious and a major plague of animal farming.

Pirbright Institute

Pirbright Institute

The Pirbright Institute is a research institute in Surrey, England, dedicated to the study of infectious diseases of farm animals. It forms part of the UK government's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The institute employs scientists, vets, PhD students and operations staff.

Effluent decontamination system

Effluent decontamination system

An effluent decontamination system (EDS) is a device, or suite of devices, designed to decontaminate or sterilise biologically active or biohazardous materials in fluid and liquid waste material. Facility types that may utilise an EDS include hospitals, food and beverage industry plants, research laboratories, agricultural and animal research facilities, pharmaceutical production facilities, and governmental or military facilities... In fact, all facilities in the United States of America that produce liquid waste of Biosafety Level 2 and above must decontaminate their waste before discharging it into a public sewer system Examples of liquids sterilised in an EDS include the shower water from personnel decontamination rooms, and the waste water from washing down animal rooms in laboratory environments.

Citric acid

Citric acid

Citric acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula HOC(CO2H)(CH2CO2H)2. It is a colorless weak organic acid. It occurs naturally in citrus fruits. In biochemistry, it is an intermediate in the citric acid cycle, which occurs in the metabolism of all aerobic organisms.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is a multinational animal health company, formed in January 2017 when Merial was acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim and merged with Boehringer Ingelheim's existing animal health assets.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom. Concordats set out agreed frameworks for co operation, between it and the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive, which have devolved responsibilities for these matters in their respective nations.

Biosafety level

Biosafety level

A biosafety level (BSL), or pathogen/protection level, is a set of biocontainment precautions required to isolate dangerous biological agents in an enclosed laboratory facility. The levels of containment range from the lowest biosafety level 1 (BSL-1) to the highest at level 4 (BSL-4). In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have specified these levels. In the European Union, the same biosafety levels are defined in a directive. In Canada the four levels are known as Containment Levels. Facilities with these designations are also sometimes given as P1 through P4, as in the term P3 laboratory.

Surrey County Council

Surrey County Council

Surrey County Council is the county council administering certain services in the non-metropolitan county of Surrey in England. The council is composed of 81 elected councillors, and in all but one election since 1965 the Conservative Party has held the majority. The leader of the council is Tim Oliver.

Media reporting incursion

The media were the only people to breach the police cordons. At the time Surrey Police Assistant Chief Constable Mark Rowley said "So far, two photographers have been arrested for breaching cordons, despite the obvious need to protect the area and clear signs prohibiting entry. No members of the public have tried to get inside contaminated areas and unfortunately the only attempted breaches have been by some of the media." [45]

Peter Denard from Surrey Trading Standards stated: "This is a virulent disease spread on contact and proximity. The idea that anyone not wearing protective clothing and taking no bio-security measures is trampling through a potentially contaminated area of the countryside is beyond belief." [45]

The two photographers, Philip Hollis of The Daily Telegraph and James Purkiss, were later found guilty under the Animal Health Act for ignoring prohibitions and entering protected sites. Hollis was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs. Purkiss was sentenced to 140 hours of community service, and fined £1,150. [46][47]

Source: "2007 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2022, December 21st), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_United_Kingdom_foot-and-mouth_outbreak.

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Further Reading

Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Plum Island Animal Disease Center

Pirbright

2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

Aphthovirus

2007 Bernard Matthews H5N1 outbreak

Global spread of H5N1 in 2007

Red Line (Namibia)

Foot-and-mouth disease

Japan foot-and-mouth outbreak
See also
References
  1. ^ "Crisis now worse than in 1967". The Guardian. 14 March 2001. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Pigs are clear of foot-and-mouth". BBC News. 9 January 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  3. ^ "Declaration of a protection zone, surveillance zone and restricted zone" Archived 7 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine. DEFRA. Dated 3 August 2007
  4. ^ "Foot and Mouth Disease confirmed in cattle, in Surrey". DEFRA. 3 August 2007. Archived from the original on 19 August 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  5. ^ "Further farms tested for disease". BBC News. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  6. ^ David Smith (5 August 2007). "How the dark shadow of disease fell across Surrey". London: Observer. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  7. ^ Adam Lusher; Andrew Alderson (7 August 2007). "Farm at centre of foot and mouth is 'well-run'". London: Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 21 March 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  8. ^ a b c "Farm infected with foot-and-mouth". BBC News. 3 August 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  9. ^ "Map of Isolation zones(Image)". BBC News. 3 August 2007. Archived from the original on 7 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  10. ^ a b Miles Goslett (3 August 2007). "Foot and mouth: new possible cases reported". London: Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 21 March 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  11. ^ Carrillo C, Tulman ER, Delhon G, Lu Z, Carreno A, Vagnozzi A, Kutish GF, Rock DL (2005). "Comparative genomics of foot-and-mouth disease virus". J. Virol. 79 (10): 6487–6504. doi:10.1128/JVI.79.10.6487-6504.2005. PMC 1091679. PMID 15858032.
  12. ^ "Results of Foot and Mouth Disease Strain in Surrey, extension of zones". DEFRA. 4 August 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  13. ^ "INSTITUTE FOR ANIMAL HEALTH". Archived from the original on 21 August 2007.
  14. ^ "Foot and Mouth Disease Summary Epidemiological Report" Archived 10 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine – DEFRA Dated 9 August 2007
  15. ^ "EU "Council Directive 2006/552/EC concerning laboratories to handle FMD virus".
  16. ^ "Foot-and-mouth strain identified". BBC News. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  17. ^ DEFRA – "Declaration amending the declaration of a protection zone, surveillance zone and restricted zone made at 21:30 on 3 August 2007" Archived 7 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Additional Foot and Mouth Disease test results in Surrey" Archived 22 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine. DEFRA. Dated 5 August 2007 14:20
  19. ^ "Declaration Further case of Foot and Mouth Disease suspected in Protection Zone" Archived 28 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine. DEFRA. Dated 6 August 2007 21:20
  20. ^ "Second case of FMD confirmed in Surrey" Archived 20 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Farmers Weekly. Dated 7 August 2007 10:20
  21. ^ Initial report on potential breaches to biosecurity at the Pirbright site, 2007 Archived 1 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine – HSE
  22. ^ The 1970s Pirbright outbreak Archived 24 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Channel 4 News. Dated 7 August 2007
  23. ^ "Declaration of a Temporary Control Zone" Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. DEFRA. Dated 9 August 2007 21:15
  24. ^ New foot-and-mouth case suspected. BBC News. Dated 10 August 2007
  25. ^ "Revocation of declaration of a temporary control zone" Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine . DEFRA. Dated 11 August 2007 11:30
  26. ^ "No foot and mouth at Chessington theme park". Evening Standard. 14 August 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  27. ^ The Times Sat 24 August 2007 Page 4. Also
  28. ^ Defra 8 September 2007
  29. ^ "Declaration of a temporary control zone" Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. DEFRA. Dated 12 September 2007
  30. ^ "Foot and Mouth Disease confirmed in Surrey". DEFRA. 12 September 2007. Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
  31. ^ Sturcke, James; Weaver, Matthew; Boycott, Owen (12 September 2007). "New foot and mouth case hits farmers". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  32. ^ "BBC NEWS | Scotland | Perthshire sheep given all clear". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  33. ^ "Foot and Mouth Disease confirmed in Surrey". DEFRA. 12 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
  34. ^ "Foot and Mouth Disease confirmed in Surrey:Update: 21:50, 13 September". DEFRA. 13 September 2007. Archived from the original on 15 September 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2007.
  35. ^ "Everything in Our Power To Eradicate Foot-and-mouth, Says Prime Minister, Gordon Brown". Medical News Today. 4 August 2007. Archived from the original on 11 August 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
  36. ^ a b "Foot and mouth disease 2007: a review and lessons learned". GOV.UK. p. 10, Appendix E. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  37. ^ "Abattoir lay-offs after outbreak". BBC News. 6 August 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
  38. ^ "Disease labs face safety inquiry". BBC News. 5 August 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
  39. ^ Smith, Lewis; Pavia, Will (10 August 2007). "Fresh outbreak of virus suspected as scientists point to sabotage as cause". The Times. London. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
  40. ^ "All-island response to foot-and-mouth threat". BreakingNews.ie. 4 August 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  41. ^ "Disinfectant measures ordered at ports and airports". BreakingNews.ie. 4 August 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  42. ^ "British livestock exports banned". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 4 August 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
  43. ^ "Foot-and-mouth 'traced to pipe'". 5 September 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  44. ^ Enserink, Martin (10 September 2007). "Reports Blame Lab for Foot-and-Mouth Fiasco". Science Magazine (AAAS). Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  45. ^ a b "Trading Standards and police warn people to respect Foot and Mouth restrictions" Archived 27 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine – Surrey Police Dated 9 August 2007
  46. ^ EPUK - Foot & Mouth photographer guilty . Accessed 30 April 2009. Archived 2009-05-18.
  47. ^ EPUK - Photographer fined for foot and mouth breach
External links

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