Lab 'probable source' of outbreak

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A report by the Health and Safety Executive said there was a "real possibility" the disease was spread by human movement, but the chances it was caused by flooding or aerial transmission was "negligible.

It did not narrow down the likely source further to either Merial Animal Health or the Institute of Animal Health (IAH), both of which are on the Pirbright site.

The report confirmed the strain found at the first farm was being worked on at both IAH and Merial between July 14 and 25. There was large scale production at the Merial site (10,000 litres) and a series of small scale experiments (fewer than 10 millilitres in each case) at the IAH site.

It said: "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."

The report found no evidence of any incidents such as laboratory spillages or working practices that could have led to a release of the strain.

But the report did conclude there were various potential routes for "accidental or deliberate transfer of material from the site".

It said: "We have investigated site management systems and records and spoken to a number of employees. As a result we are pursuing lines of inquiry.

"Release by human movement must also be considered a real possibility. Further investigation of the above issues is required and is being urgently pursued."

Preliminary investigations found the possibility that surface water caused by flooding or airborne transfer could have contaminated the first farm was also negligible. The report identified a "number of biosecurity issues" surrounding the effluent treatment system at the laboratory site, which are now subject to ongoing investigations.