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Is Professor Brian Spratt the right person
to head the inquiry into the alleged
biosecurity leak at Pirbright?
James Irvine
Teviot Scientific, Cultybraggan Farm, Comrie,
Perthshire
Filed 06 Aug 07
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There can be no doubt that Professor Brian Spratt
is a highly distinguished scientist, But is he the right person
to head up the inquiry into the alleged biosecurity leak at Pirbright?
It is alleged that a highly unusual strain of FMD virus, type O1
BSF537, may have escaped from either the Merial vaccine production
facility or the IAH laboratories at Pirbright to infect nearby cattle.
According to his CV he is an international leader
in the study of the mechanisms whereby bacteria can become resistant
to antibiotics. There is little mention of him having expertise
in the management of large scale virology laboratories involved
in the handling of highly dangerous viruses.
It would seem to me that it would have been much
more sensible for a virologist, well versed in the management of
an NHS virology laboratory on a daily basis, to have been selected
for the task. There is a huge difference in the responsibilities,
training and career structure required to run a diagnostic/research
laboratory primarily concerned with viruses, compared to that required
to run a research laboratory primary concerned with bacteria.
The problem with the Institute of Animal Health
at Pribright is that it seems to be required to act both as a research
laboratory and as a routine diagnostic laboratory with special responsibilities
for handling viruses from around the world.
Also, it is high time that the extensive expertise
that is available in the NHS in relation to virology is used to
good effect. The longterm prejudice that veterinary virologists
may have against interference from their medical colleagues requires
to be broken down.
Also, by calling in an NHS virology expert,
the worry that the inquiry might be influenced by a chairman who
is perhaps beholden for research grants form the Government might
well be avoided.
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