Archived News

22nd November 2007

Another Pirbright Scare. 

Today Hilary Benn the Environment Secretary made an announcement to the House of Commons to the effect that on 19th November Merial discovered a shortfall in the quantity of virus recovered from production batches the previous week. Merial informed Defra at 4pm on 20th November and Defra updated their website at 1pm today, three days after the incident occurred.

A valve had been leaking which allowed an unintended probable release of live FMD virus into the contained drainage system, which was then pumped to the final chemical treatment facility without being heat treated. The inspection team are assured that live virus has not been released into the environment.

We are naturally concerned that this has happened so soon after the re-instatement of Merial's license to work with live virus on 6th November. Now the license has been suspended once again.

We are told that the leak was contained within the site and trust that there is no risk to the farming community. It is hoped that this matter will be resolved swiftly and safely because we do need Merial's production of Bluetongue vaccine to continue.

Another thirty calves arrived today and they are making quite a noise this evening.  There's no sign of a fox disturbing them so it's probably just that they are in their new home and they happen to be a noisy bunch. When they get used to the automatic feeder they will soon settle down.