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David Catlow, President of the British Veterinary Association, said:
“The rapid identification of the type and strain, and hence possible source of the FMD virus is an extremely helpful development in dealing with the outbreak. It allows veterinary resources to be focussed on identification of disease in a more localised region. It is important to stress that all susceptible animal owners in GB should remain vigilant and report any clinical suspicions of disease whilst continuing to observe the strict ban on animal movements. The urgency is to identify and eradicate this dreadful disease as quickly as possible.
“The Pirbright site houses two laboratories – the IAH Laboratory and the independent commercial laboratory of Merial, a world-leading manufacturer of animal vaccines. Such laboratories carry strict bio-security protocols. We are informed that Merial have agreed to halt vaccine production pending the result of an independent investigation.”