By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 09:55, Saturday, 06 December 2008

Farmers suing for £1.5m compensation after last year’s foot and mouth outbreak claim animal health officials discharged the live virus through a leaky drain and public sewer.

Fourteen farmers – including Colin Hebson, of Chapel Farm, Cotehill, Carlisle – are battling for compensation after their herds had to be culled following the outbreak at the Pirbright research facility in Surrey.

Details of the claim emerged yesterday when the High Court writ was published for the first time.

The farmers allege the Institute of Animal Health (IAH) and Merial Animal Health failed to work with the live virus under high containment conditions and safety precautions.

They say they allowed the drainage to become defective, and fall short of standards expected of a laboratory handling live foot and mouth virus, and discharged it into a leaking drainage system and the sewer.

The 14 claim they have not been paid compensation for the disruption and losses, and have been refused access to documents which might help their case.

The writ says Merial produced 12,000 litres of the same strain of foot and mouth disease virus just before the outbreak which led to the slaughter of hundreds of animals.

The farmers say although effluent from Merial had been treated with citric acid, that did not deactivate it, and it was carried around an old, poorly maintained system.

The virus was released through leaking drains, some more than 50 years old, and probably carried by water into land before getting onto Roger Pride’s farm, where his herd of organically reared cattle had to be slaughtered, the writ says.

Mr Hebson and the other farmers have joined forces to demand damages from the IAH, Merial, and the Secretary of State for Defra.

They all plan to vigorously defend the farmers’ claim.

The farmers say the Secretary of State has a compelling interest in ensuring that the IAH continues to work despite any problems.

First published at 09:03, Saturday, 06 December 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk