Defra receives FMD reports

DEFRA has received the report from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Surrey.

The HSE investigation has looked into possible biosecurity breaches to try and determine how the virus spread from the Pirbright site – home to the Institute of Animal Health and pharmaceutical company Merial - to nearby farms.

An initial report from the HSE highlighted ‘biosecurity issues’ with the site’s drainage system, plus the ‘real possibility’ of ‘deliberate or accidental’ of release by human movement as potential causes.

However, there appeared to be no firm evidence to pinpoint the precise route of transmission and is unclear whether the HSE’s final report will deliver this.

Defra was also expecting to receive Professor Brian Spratt’s report into wider aspects of the outbreak on Friday.

The reports are expected to be published next week alongside a statement of actions the Government will be taking in response to them.

“Both reports will be carefully considered,” Defra said on Friday.