UK FMD outbreak: Latest update 7 August 2007 The latest developments on the FMD outbreak in Surrey, UK: > Photo Gallery: Media scrutiny > Outbreak linked to Merial lab > Merial Statements > IAH Statements > The disease explained > Animal disease trends > Cattle: Herd size and production > Blog: Foot in mouth.... With the national control measures appearing to have successfully contained the UK's foot and mouth disease incident over the weekend and a research centre under investigation as the most likely source of the virus, livestock farmers are questioning how the infection could have come from an institution actually dedicated to maintaining animal health. A second herd of cattle was slaughtered on Monday, and these animals have now been confirmed to have had the disease. However, the herd was located within the 10km protection zone now imposed around the first farm found with the infection and two laboratories at the centre of government investigations to locate the source of the virus behind the outbreak. A report is expected later on Tuesday August 7th. The two laboratories that share the Pirbright site in Surrey are both authorised to handle live foot and mouth disease vaccine. The Institute for Animal Health is a world reference laboratory on behalf of the OIE and FAO for FMD, while the Merial Animal Health facility has manufactured hundreds of millions of doses of vaccines, including those against FMD, since it was built 15 years ago. It holds the Government contract to supply FMD vaccines in the event of the authorities deciding on a vaccination program to combat an epidemic of the disease. Register for free FMD daily updates Get a four-week trial subscription Receive FREE daily updates on foot and mouth disease +44 (0)20 7017 5540 > Register > Email us for details The latest statement from the UK's chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds is that the role of flooding in the area of the outbreak following the record levels of rainfall in June and July is being studied as a contributory factor. She has also ordered 300,000 doses of vaccine as a precautionary measure. Merial has restarted its vaccine production process at Pirbright to meet this demand, but its voluntary decision to suspend all other activities there since Monday remains in place. The National Farmers Union of England and Wales has stated its deep concern that the virus behind the latest case of FMD in the UK could have originated from Pirbright. "Livestock farmers throughout the country will be in a state of anger and amazement to think that a site concerned with animal health may have allowed this terrible virus to get into our farming stock," it says.... > Login for the full story > Not a subscriber? Subscribe