Foot-and-mouth link to lab revealed

Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds revealed on Saturday night that the strain of virus responsible for an outbreak on a Surrey farm was the same as one produced at the Pirbright labs a few miles away.

But Environment Secretary Hilary Benn on Sunday morning stressed that, while this was a "promising lead", it was too early to say that the site - home both to the official Institute for Animal Health and the commercial pharmaceutical company Merial Animal Health - was definitely the source of the infection.

Experts from the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the Pirbright site and Mr Benn has commissioned a review of biosecurity arrangements led by Professor Brian Spratt of Imperial College, London University.

Bans on the movement of cows, sheep and pigs and the export of cloven-hoofed animals and animal products remain in force.

Mr Benn told BBC News 24's Sunday: "The important thing to bear in mind is that this is a promising lead, but we don't know for sure and therefore it is very, very important that people continue to be vigilant. All the measures that we put in place on Friday evening remain in place."

Mr Benn said that the IAH carries out tests on foot-and-mouth at Pirbright, while Merial manufactures animal vaccines for the authorities in the UK and abroad.

"We do know that last month they were manufacturing a batch of vaccine that included this strain," he said.

Since foot-and-mouth was first identified on the farm in the village of Normandy, near Guildford, on Friday, another four farmers have reported concerns about their livestock, said Mr Benn. All four have been checked by vets and given the all-clear.

Asked if he could rule out sabotage or terrorism as a cause for the outbreak, Mr Benn responded: "We simply do not know, and that is why these urgent investigations are taking place at both parts of the site."