UK zoonotic research site left to deteriorate – MPs

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The Public Affairs Committee report cited inadequate management and under-investment at the site in Weybridge.
It said the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs had comprehensively failed in its historical management of the center.
Defra said that work was already underway to boost the laboratories.
They operated Animals and Plants through the center, Health Agency (APHA). It is central to the ability to control the outbreak of animal diseases and detect emerging pathogens.

At the Weybridge site, the Public Accounts Committee found more than 1,000 single points of failure.
Its report said deterioration had left the laboratories continually vulnerable to a breakdown which would severely impact the ability effectively respond to outbreaks.
Some of the deadliest viruses on earth are zoonotic diseases that cross between species as Covid-19, Sars, or Ebola.
The report said the risk to the UK of a zoonotic disease is real consequences can be devastating and accused of not sufficiently prioritizing this threat to UK health, trade, farming, and rural communities.

Committee chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier said after the 2001 disaster of foot and mouth disease, the past decades brought one animal source after another.
She said to allow UK capacity in this area to deteriorate alarmingly over that same period. These diseases devastate our food production systems and the economy and, when they jumped the species barrier to humans as Covid-19 did, to our whole society.
The UK and EU are now in the grip of a record avian flu attack that has killed 48 million birds.

Prof Paul Wigley, teacher of animal microbial ecosystems at the University of Bristol, warned that avian flu potential to include them.
Always, been a central resource of facilities and people has Weybridge. He said in a position of underfunding and crumbling facilities. Without support, it is increasingly unlikely the UK could cope with another animal or zoonotic disease along with the ongoing avian influenza epidemic.
The plans to redevelop the site, with the construction of a new science hub due to start in 2027. However, the level of funding needed is still not finalized.

Prof James Wood, head of the department of veterinary medicine at the University of Cambridge, said that the steady decline of the facility had been clean.
We can no longer be reliant on laboratory resources from European laboratories partners. The laboratory significance is shown clearly by its central role in the diagnosis. Ongoing unprecedented control of the avian influenza outbreak.
The current major Weybridge redevelopment program is very welcome, and it will take many years to implement the risks of laboratory failure occurring in the meantime.

A Defra spokesperson said: Significant funding and work are already underway to upgrade laboratories and ensure protection from these diseases into the future.
The world-leading scientists and our field teams are playing a vital role in responding rapidly and decisively to the threats from animal diseases, including the current Avian Influenza outbreak, which is the largest on record.

Its report said the deterioration had left labs perpetually vulnerable to an outage, which would severely hamper Britain’s ability to respond effectively to outbreaks.
Some of the deadliest viruses on earth are zoonotic diseases such as interbreeding between species of Covid-19, Sars, or Ebola.

The report said the risk of a zoonotic disease for the UK was real, and the consequences devastating and did not blame For this threat to British health, trade, agriculture, and rural communities. It gives sufficient priority.
The committee chair, Dame Meg Hillier, said that following the foot-and-mouth disease disaster of 2001, the past few decades had brought one animal-borne disease after another.

Shockingly had allowed the capacity of Britain in this area to deteriorate at such an alarming rate over the same period, she said. These diseases devastate our food production systems and the economy if they cross the species barrier for humans like Covid-19, our entire society.
A ranger at a Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve removes the carcasses of two dead swans believed with bird flu.
The UK and EU, are currently hit by a record outbreak of bird flu that has killed 48 million birds.
Professor of animal microbial ecosystems Prof Paul Wigley, at the University of Bristol, warned that avian flu has the potential to spread to other species, including us.

Weybridge has been a help to organizations and people. He said a dangerous position by underfunding and crumbling facilities. Without support, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that the UK could cope with another major outbreak of animal or zoonoses alongside the ongoing avian flu epidemic.

The government intends to redevelop the site, with the construction of a new science center to begin in 2027. However, the amount includes not been determined funding required.
Prof James Wood, head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge, said steady decline stood clear.
We can no longer rely on laboratory resources from European partner laboratories. The importance of laboratories is illustrated by their central role in diagnosing and controlling the ongoing unprecedented avian influenza.

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Olivia Wilson
By Olivia Wilson

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