Leading article: Bio-insecurity
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It is good that the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Surrey last month was so quickly contained and eradicated. At least one lesson was learnt from the catastrophic spread of the disease in 2001. Almost all the rest of the story, as we now know it, is appalling.
Two investigations have failed to establish for certain where the contamination originated. They posit a combination of circumstances, part natural (tree roots and heavy rain), part man-made (poor maintenance), and part routine (the movement of workers and vehicles).
Defective maintenance, though, appears the key: if the pipe in question had been properly insulated, none of the other factors would have been lethal. But this raises as many questions as answers: did the maintenance problem reflect poor inspection, lack of funds, or perhaps confused responsibilities between the Government (Defra) and subordinate agencies?
What is clear is that the standard of biosecurity was disgracefully lax. The prominence given to the adjacent commercial laboratory, Merial, in early official statements also suggests a scandalous attempt to spin culpability away from Defra. If, as is likely, the farmers sue, their case for damages seems unimpeachable.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments