Institute admits cattle disease blunder
12 June 2000
Institute admits cattle disease blunder
BRITISH cattle could be carrying a deadly disease unknown in the UK after being accidentally infected at a government-backed research centre, reports The Daily Telegraph.
Vets and farmers are trying to track down 400 cattle after two animals died from Theileria, or Mediterranean Fever, on a farm run by the Roslin Institute, near Edinburgh.
It is believed the animals which died contracted the disease from cattle which were deliberately infected while scientists were trying to develop a vaccine between 1992 and 1998.
The institute said it “very much regretted the blunder”.
It said cross-contamination during blood sampling was the most likely cause of the disease spreading.
Twenty-two cattle were destroyed at Blythbank Farm after tests indicated they may have the disease.
Travel restrictions have been imposed on another 628 cattle on the institute, although they have tested clear of Theileria.
But there are fears the disease may have spread with up to 400 other animals not accounted for which were sold on to commercial farmers.
The institute said the parasite, which causes heavy financial losses in Africa, India and China and parts of southern Europe, posed no threat to humans.