As these labs are such a danger to the public, they should be located in remote areas?? Where ?? Underground !! This country is littered with dis-used mines, why not use them, they are ready made, they have already paid for them selves and waiting for a new life as the coal has run out in them, the labs would be containable should there be a spill etc.

Dennis M ( oag ), Melton Mowbray, Leics

Why not lax Yankee businesses, or is that beyond the comprehension of someone in New York?

First, as a Yankee in Albany, NY I would like to point out that the company is from the State of Georgia. Yankee's are from the North East, not the south. That is like calling all Brits Irish.

It is beyond the comprehension from THIS person in New York why any US company would want to have a lab in England. Certainly not for the work ethic.

Now are you also going to blame us for Mad Cow and the French?

Charles, Albany, New York

Mr. Cregg, I wouldn't worry about your walking, right now. Foot & mouth, I seem to remember, can cross species, in fact some have suggested it was partly to blame for the massive die-off of humans called the Black Plague back in Merry Ol' England & most of the world, in 1348. Well, this creeps me out just fine, and yes, "sabotage" is newspeak for terrorism - why do we have to be polite to people who want to kill us, exactly ? - the madness of this era is going to be remembered for centuries, I believe, books will be written about how political correctness made facing Islamic terrorism impossible, and how we fought among ourselves, silencing any mention of what was really happening, instead of facing the truth of our times.

Its either that or radical Vegans/ environmentalists - you know how they keep going on about global warming and meat eaters? Chance release is almost unbelievable - that kind of lab has security backups of the security backups !

Kathleen Mary, Federal Way, USA/ WA

Could have been intentional. but doubt very much big bad Americans did it, more likely if it was intentional it is by a terrorist "doctor" or other employee at the site, possibly ALL personel, conbtractors ect.. that had any access to the site have searches done of there persons, homes, and vehicles. A concerted effort should be done in profiling of any said employees or contractors to see if any has any association either in person, or via family or freinds with any terror related organizations.

I am sure we can get to the bottom of this, but time is essential for an investigation, evidence must be collected else it vanish. Serve the search warrents immediatly!

I hope that who ever did this is caught, and that the spread of this ceases. Worst case is individual(s) have spread out with it, infecting many areas.

God Bless Great Britain!

tom, redwood , USA

I think Osama bin Laden did it, so it was terrorism, so there.

Dave, Carmoo, Australia

I am sorry that country walkers will be inconvenienced by the illegal closure of some footpaths--but get real, here! We're talking about frightened farmers, losing their very livelihoods! Not to mention the fact that most farmers genuinely care about their cattle and other livestock.

I know for a fact, that your average family farmer, farms for love--not greed.

One wonders if the these country walkers would be so put out, if it was their incomes, their careers--their very existence, being endangered?

I shake my head in puzzlement, as I just don't understand some people, sometimes.

Nancy, Glens Falls, USA NY

on the news tonight it showed the allotments which the purbright worker/s have were did the blue drums come from? could it possibly be the research facility. they are expensive to buy, could they have come from the lab?

mj, preston,

Perhaps Moscow has something to do with this? During the first foot and mouth outbreak we suspected Iraq agents. Is it stretching imagination too far to think the Russians might want to punish the UK given the current political tensions? Do they have people working in that lab?

Steve Mason, Exeter, Devon

Hmmm... no chance some kind of "doctor" on jihad behind this?

Oh well.. the IMPORTANT thing is the UK withdraw from Iraq and demand Guantanamo prisoners (who requested refugee status in the UK in the past few years) are released.

Gotta' love the priorities...

RJ, Dallas,, USA, TX

Mrs. Peel, We're needed.

Steed, London,

If it WAS terrorism, my first suspects would be the global warming alarmists. They are always saying that the methane gas from cows is the greatest contributor to global warming. They want everyone to become a vegan in order to reduce the demand for beef cattle. If they can convince the public that beef is too dangerous to eat (by making it too dangerouse to eat), they can accomplish their goals.

Is that too far fetched to consider?

John, Lynchburg, VA, USA

The beautiful landscape in England is a by-product of farming, not the reason for it. If the farmers go then they will never come back, as it isn't a skill that can be learnt it is a vocation. Defra are doing nothing to help the situation, as they don't know what to do. They are just suits.
Heaven help the farmers.

chris, Lancs, lancashire

Money says, it was Tyson Foods(they own a major shrare of the beef market in the US with IBP) trying to drive up the price of beef.

Danny Broughton, Indianapolis, USA

How terribly sad to see this happen again. I simply cannot understand how this government with its hatred of all things rural can be reelected time and time again. Now living in Canada away from this deep class hatred, I watch these philistines attempt to destroy everything that England was and that England stood for. Was the virus let out deliberately by your political masters?

Gloria Gibbins, Toronto, Canada

Why are we allowing companies to store thousands of litres of this stuff??. Small quantities for research I can understand, but reportedly they had something like 10,000 litres. Are we secretly into chemical weapons production??.

Steve`, Kegworth, UK

'Animals will spread it anyway so closing footpaths wouldn't work'. There's a statement of self-interest.
The disease may be spread by other animals anyway but that doesn't mean it is ok to carry on walking and riding across fields. Animals are more territorial than humans. Humans increase the risk by a much greater factor. So as far as I am concerned walkers should have been immediately banned for at least a 50km radius. The government are too slow. Walking can be done on the street.

David Thijm, Stourbridge, UK

How long do we have to wait before they tell us that there were Iraqi Muslim doctors with fake qualifications working at Pulbright?

Arthur, Melbourne,

An "accidental" security breach, what is that - the new definition of incompetance?
If Merial is identified as the source of the disease outbreak the firm should face the potential of a multimillion-pound class action for damages by farmers whose businesses have been ruined.
"Make it so"!

Ian Gibb, Ashtead Surrey, UK

Yes, evil American businesses caused this. Bush probably had his buddies who knocked down the WTC towers to arrange for this. And it's also probably related to global warming, too.
Could it be that your "secure" facility experienced the same problems with bureacracy, greed, and incompetence that the U.S.'s similar facility experienced?
Check out the book Lab 257 by Michael Christopher Carroll. It details how outbreaks occurred at the Plum Island facility, which handled similar virulent strains for "research" purposes.
Not too terribly shocking how such things can happen.

Mike Ramsey, Plano, TX USA

What do you need 10,000 liters of the hoof and mouth virus? Why large scale production?

Rick, Panorama City, Ca. USA

This is no longer a matter for investigation by the HSE but for a very robust and fearless police authority prepared if necessary to stand up to whatever government pressure there may be.
A continuation of the Blair administration's tactic of condemnation by inference and press leaks of private individuals and businesses by the Brown administration is unacceptable.

David Reynolds, Selby, UK

If the outbreak of FMD is now being linked with the floods, has anyone asked the question why did they fetch infected cattle through a stream before they were slaughtered? If you look at the footage from the helicopter, they are clearly driven through a water course. This is Foot and Mouth Disease where there are open blisters on the cattle's feet leaking virus. I doubt the farmers downstream of the infected premises will be very impressed by this.

G Irving, Cumbria,

The view that the FMD could have been spread due to sabotage was in last week's farming press - how come it takes the mainstream press so long to come to the same conclusion?

Closing footpaths is meaningless when the virus can be spread by flies - admittedly they can only be host to the virus for a few hours but a fly can cover quite an area in a few hours. Farmers just love closing footpaths, they always have and they always will, because they think they should decide what goes on in the countryside. However, the debacle of closing down the countryside in 2001 showed that to be a no-brainer, as it is obvious we all have 'shares' and interest in the countryside, just as rural dwellers have a share and interest in urban matters.

Chris, Crawley, UK

Andy,

The argument is not about having research labs in the UK. The argument is centred about having sufficient controls in place to ensure that hazourdous material cannot escape and contaminate the surrounding environment.
If this strain did escape from Pirbright then it should face civil and its Directors criminal prosecutions.

imj, Abu Dhabi, UAE

This incident really does beggar belief.

Martin, Shropshire,

An Economic Terrorist Attack? Remember the immigrant doctors and the car bomb plot? Is anyone checking the background of the workers at the Suspect Labs?

Mitch, Seattle, WA / USA

My heart goes out to all the farmers whose livlihoods are at stake once again. It seems that one day most foods (and indeed goods) will need to be imported. How can an economy run on a financial sector alone?

Alex Dixon, Swindon, Wiltshire

Closing footpaths will not eliminate the risk of spreading F&M, but it will reduce the risk. By the same token the irresponsible actions by television crews, and indeed in some cases, farmers, will not contribute to the reduction of risk.

I watched today at lunchtime a bbc reporter demonstrate his bio security technique - a process that could specifically enhance the risk of spread. He stepped into a bucket one foot at a time, then proceeded to replace each foot on the same potentially contaminated soil it had just left. The damp boot would now pick up any potential contamination more effectively than had he not bothered.

To reduce risk of spread I would suggest that all farmyards have a hot/cold line system. The idea would be potential contamination on the hot side, and none on the cold side. Discipline would be required so that when someone steps in a disinfectant bucket they do not retreat back to the hot zone. Simple, but not in evidence on any of the TV footage.

James, Norwich, UK

Might I venture to suggest that the reason nobody is referring to potential sabotage as an act of terrorism is because it would not BE an act of terrorism?


The purpose of terrorism is to create terror. The purpose of this act of sabotage - should that be what it was - would not have anything to do with terror, but would be to damage the country's food supply.

Paul Heyes, Sheffield, United Kingdom

I dont think you have to be a genius to realize that all of these contaminations of food and water supply are a trial run to a much bigger plan - 9-11 didnt just happen - it was well planned and tested. The fanatics took many trial plane rides - I think we need to see this for what it is

dorothy, new york, new york

"I fail to see how closing footpaths eliminate the risk of the spread of foot and mouth as any animal could carry the disease using any footpath it desired" - Tony Clegg

Animal movement along footpaths is restricted by stiles and gates. The only time this breaks down is when ramblers leave the gates open. For such a ‘keen walker’ you display a remarkable level of ignorance about the countryside. How can you fail to understand that the foot & mouth virus is highly infectious and can be transmitted by contact with your boots and clothing, or were you living on another planet in 2001 ? I fail to understand why the footpaths were left open in the infected area for so long after the outbreak was discovered. Was the government so worried about the backlash form the Ramblers Association, that they rather risk livestock and farmers’ livelihoods ? I sincerely hope that the government has not just lost the one chance they had to contain this outbreak.

Chris Long, Thirsk, North Yorkshire

Yeah, it might be sabotage, but having worked in labs with biohazards, I can hear the staff now, "No-o-o-o..., we never, never pour anything down the sink that hasn't been sterilized first." Investigator conclusion: they never pour anything down the sink that hasn't been sterlized first. Unh-hunh.

Mary Andersen, Columbia MO, USA

Another ready-made justification to reduce personal freedom, on a purely temporary basis, naturally. But then never quite get around to repealing said legislation. Wake up England, you are sleepwalking into a police state.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Kanagawa

It is very possible that birds such as ravens or crows which often travel some distances may be the transmitting culprit as they are here in the United States with West Nile Virus which travels by mosquitoes and such birds, subsequently infecting humans or animals.

david, burkesville, KUSA

How many more 'secret' sites are we harbouring amongst our midst?

C.W.Parsons, Birmingham, UK

I can see why closing footpaths is a good idea, FMD can be spread very easly, and can actually survive in a humans nasal passage for up to 48 hours. So all it potentially needs is to go in a area where infected animals are..and pass through and spread the virus with a simple sneeze , from clothing, or contaminated soil on shoes if came in contact with animals on another farm.
It may not completely take the risk away, but it minimizes it drastically.

mrchips, newcastle upon tyne,

It is probably too little and too late, but:

Footpaths within a radius of the infected farms MUST be closed!

Do we never learn?

TonyJ, Swanage, UK

I would do a complete closure of trails, etc. in order to stop the spread of F&M disease. Even if animals use these paths, and we can't control them, everything that can be done MUST be done to help stop any spread that has occurred.

No excuses or theories right now on how it happened or how to stop it - just contain the damn disease, then figure out what happened!

Britain's economy is far to important to not take every step needed to protect her.

karan godwin-corey, falcon, Colorado, USA

Note the date of the article...

Newkirk: "I openly hope" foot and mouth epidemic hits the United States

By Brian Carnell

Tuesday, April 3, 2001

Quite a few people e-mailed me with links to an interview with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 'Ingrid Newkirk in which Newkirk was asked about the foot and mouth epidemic that has struck Europe. Newkirk told a reporter from Reuters,

"If that hideousness came here, it wouldn't be any more hideous for the animals -- they are all bound for a ghastly death anyway. But it would wake up consumers...I openly hope that it comes here. It will bring economic harm only for those who profit from giving people heart attacks and giving animals a concentration camp-like existence. It would be good for animals, good for human health and good for the environment."

Carol, Ranson WV, USA

We visited West Dean Gardens near Chichester today and they have closed all access to their arboretum "due to foot and mouth".

We know that land owners all round the country will now use the disease as an excuse to illegally close public footpaths. In the last outbreak walkers were prosecuted for disobeying closure signs, I doubt any action will be taken against land owners this time.

This closure of the countryside will hit rural communities far more than one isolated incidence of foot and mouth. I have already cancelled a holiday to the Devon due to start next week. Walking in Normandy is just as attractive.

Gerry Lynch, Chichester,

To....Michael J Rigby, Blackburn, England

Tell us all, where exactly in the UK is one likely to find
"REMOTE areas away from populations,Animal and Human." ?

This type of facility is needed, to be sure. But security needs to be tighter. Even the remotest parts of Britain, have wildlife, that should be preserved, some domesticated animals and humans, who either live and work on the remote land, and/or tourists that want to get away from the overcrowding in the island that Britain is...

Then, considering the number of people likely to work in such facilities, and the support they need to live and work there, it ceases to be REMOTE !

Pondlife, Evian-les-Bains, France

"Why not lax Yankee businesses, or is that beyond the comprehension of someone in New York?"

Didn't this happen in the UK, Would it not be lax Brit businesses? Also you should all beware. Sounds like your gov't likes to scare you into more security measures and loss of privacy. From camera's to tracking your every move you are becoming the standard for Big Brother.

Derek, Syracuse, NY, USA

Why do these labs: have to be near farms ? couldn`t they be somewhere more isolated.

Harry, Twickenham, U.K.

I attended a job interview at Merial about ten years ago and, although I did not get the position, a good part of the interview process was being told about the bio-security rules and that if I were a successful candidate then I had to agree not to go anywhere near a farm or livestock for a minimum of two years after employment ended. So the possibility that this disaster was caused by 'human movement' is very real indeed and could easily be a simple case of stupidity. Surely if it was sabotage or terrorism the release of virus would be much greater with much more infection found.

Joan, Camberley, Surrey

I blame this on the Bush administration.

Mark Nolan , saratoga, NY

This lab has been at the root of several outbreaks of FMD since the 1960s. I believe that it is now imperative that this lab is moved to central London or some other big city centre. It is utter madness to have this laboratory located where it is with the high risk it represents to the animals it purports to be ‘helping’. A small leak of this material in a city would be of virtually no consequence and swiftly dealt with.

Peter Dewar-Finch, York, United Kingdom

To Sarah, Dorking, Surrey

Most animals territorial???


by species maybe. By number....not even close. Migratorial animals far outnumber territorial animals by number, on a log scale.

nice try.

Richard Pennington, wiltshire, UK

Keep people out! What a joke, the walkers have no concideration to landowners, they walk where they think they will, in their ignorance over any crops that are growing, leaving gates open, they could care less. They show now respect because of this ignorance, may be the schools should teach children about the farmers point of view and how important agriculture is. How that all green fields are not grass where you can play and picnick some in fact are young crops which do not recover from being driven over and walked on etc.

Colin, Isle of Wight,

Shall we look into the religious/political beliefs of all people who have had access to the virus.

We know that there are some fascists "who shall not be named" who have a keen interest in fomenting chemical and bio terror.

Chris Parker , Seattle, Washington

The Curse of Shambu ,the scared Bull, is all over the UK.

Loungani, Mumbai, India

Why is is that we allow a foreign firm to produce vaccines that we will not use in our country? The risk is too great. The cost is too great.

This Government may feel that is acceptable for the taxpayer to pick up the £8.5 billion bill every time this virus escapes but I would rather have some decent roads and hospitals and fewer incompetent civil servants experimenting with a virus that should be locked in a vault deep underground and given the same treatment as smallpox.

Richard wyld, Effingham, UK

I found it unbelievable that this site was located within the British countryside/ farmland. These sorts of places should be on a remote island at sea! Would we run a nuclear power station in an inner city?
If, and when, those responsible are found for this outbreak - and I include the 'audit trail' of inspection/regulation - then there isn't punishment I can think of that is applicable.

Sparks, uk,

So... "sabotage" is the newspeak word for terrorism?

This article all but concludes that the most likely cause for this outbreak was terrorism, but they won't use the word. Amazing.

Steve, Charlotte, NC/ USA

Can anyone tell me why this company made 10,000 litres of a virus?

Bob Mithoff, Ojai, CA

Terrorism????
Why not lax Yankee businesses, or is that beyond the comprehension of someone in New York?

Brendan, Gloucester, UK

Well, it looks as though sabotage is the only logical conclusion if carelessness on the part of animal health and safety professionals has to be automatically ruled out without any questions being asked.

The only problem that arises on that score is the question of motive, and the label that these so-called "experts" then stick - without any incriminating evidence being displayed - on the society in which we live. Which accusation is morally worse, and which is more likely in the real world - deliberate yet unmotivated biological vandalism, or carelessness on the part of the professionals themselves?

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

I haven't seen sheep and cows out rambling on footpaths with a picnic for quite few years! I thought that is what fences are for, to keep them in fields.....??

Surely any measures that 'may' stop the spread of F&M are worthwhile.

ewan, sherborne,

If the virus came from the lab then the company should be held liable for all the damage that has been done to farmers and should be made to compensate accordingly. Suggesting that this could be deliberate by an employee only gives the company a way out of paying for the blatant mistakes and although this should be an avenue of investigation should not be assumed as the cause unless a perpetrator is found.

Joseph Kellie, Edinburgh, Scotland

I agree entirely that there should be no cover up over this awful business.But I have been wondering where the research stations are that handle lethal viruses(for humans)(much as I like animals!)and if this could happen there.It's very disquieting.

H.D., W.s.M, UK

It would be very conveient to both Merial and IAH if we were to believe it was an act of sabotage. I doubt it very much. "Powers are at work in this country (UK) about which we have no knowledge about " Perhaps Politicians at work

iain, Perth, Australia

In a country the size of the UK exactly where could you put a research lab that is away from both humans and animals? There isn't anywhere! It is essential work which everyone within the industry agrees has to be done, all we can pray is that lessons are learnt from this outbreak and that it can be quickly eradicated.

As a worker in the industry all we can ask is that the public continue with their support of British meat - The quality of British produce speaks for itself - Please keep buying British!

Andy Payne, Newark, Nottinghamshire

I hope that whoever is responsible for this security lapse will be face justice - partly because it would happen to farmers who defied foot and mouth regulations and partly because we should all know the motivation(s) of the person(s) responsible. I hope that our government will not try to suppress the truth.

Tony G, Harrogate, UK

Terrorism?

Nicademus, NY, USA

If sabotage is proved,the perpetrators should be prosecuted with the full rigour of the law.
This affair has not been handled in a professional manner.
Sites such as this are as dangerous as a nuclear facility.
They should be located in REMOTE areas away from populations,Animal and Human.

Michael J Rigby, Blackburn, England

The government imposed an 8km air exclusion zone around the farm first infected with foot and mouth disease. Initially this appears to have been ignored by certain sections of the media, with film from directly above infected cattle. At least one TV company has then gone on to publicise rumoured breaches of movement restrictions by farmers elsewhere in the country. The media should be questionning its' own members blatent breaches of the F&M restrictions as well as questionning the action of others.

J S Edgoose, Sedgefield, Co. Durham, UK

What manner of a sick person wishes to cause such harm. I hope whoever is responsible, particularly if they have done this on purpose receive a criminal sentence in accordance to murder.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

mmm...... Foot and mouth near merial's lab and they get to be paid for 300.000 vaccines? Is that a business plan?

Mark, Hull,

In answer to Tony Clegg, most animals tend to be territorial so they would be unlikely to spread the virus out of an area of a few square miles - in most cases they won't do more than move from one holding to an adjacent one to feed before returning to base.
Humans on the other hand will drive to an (infected) area and will tend to walk a considerable distance across many holdings during the course of a day, and then get back in their cars and drive to a completely different area of the country to do the same the next day.
No-one wants to return to the total shutdown that happened last time, but if the virus spreads that is what will have to happen. So please keep walking, but for the time being walk somewhere else for a bit.
Thanks.

Sarah, Dorking, Surrey

Sadly common sense doesnt apply when it comes to closing footpaths. Around here, despite being outside both the protection zone and the surveillance zone, the National Trust has been closing paths with "official" signs. This panic action does nobody any good and simply causes damage to tourism and other rural employers. Since the official line, from Defra, is that footpaths should remain open even in the protection zone, can the explain why they know better?

PJG50, Farnham, Hampshire

I am a keen walker and I fail to see how closing footpaths eliminate the risk of the spread of foot and mouth as any animal could carry the disease using any footpath it desired - we cannot close footpaths to them - indeed during the last outbreak many footpaths were never closed and I found access was easy almost anywhere - so animals especially sheep would also

tony clegg, Pontefract, U.K.