Is Big Pharma Behind Brit Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak?
Aug. 6 (EIRNS) A lab owned jointly by Big Pharma conglomerates Merck & Co. and Sanofi-Aventis SA of France is the focus of an ongoing investigation into the latest outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Britain. The strain that has begun to infect cattle in Surrey, England, has not been found in animals recently, but was isolated 40 years ago. It is similar to the strain used at the Merial Animal Health lab in Pirbright, Surrey. The lab, which had $2.2 billion in 2006 sales, has voluntarily ceased production. The European Union has imposed a ban on importing all live animals, fresh meat, and milk products from mainland Great Britain. Announcing its ban, EU Commission spokesman Philip Tod declared all of Britain, except Northern Ireland, as a “high-risk area.” Reuters reports that EU veterinarians plan to meet Aug. 8, at which time further restrictions may be imposed. The outbreak is the first in Britain since 2001, when the government was criticized for its slow response. This time, Pri
