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Farm does valuable work to support top class medical research in England
EDITOR – I read with some concern your report on your website that animal rights activists are holding a demonstration against the breeding of rabbits and ferrets for scientific research at Highgate Rabbit Farm.
We only have to hope that the statement by 'Chris' that this campaign will be peaceful will turn out to be true.
Past experiences at Oxford and the village of Newchurch in Staffordshire do not encourage optimism.
The rabbits bred at Highgate Farm play an important role in many aspects of modern medical research, from producing antibodies for use when analysing human tissues to improving techniques in laser eye surgery.
With swine flu very much in the news it is worth noting that ferrets are vital to influenza research since the infection in them closely resembles that in humans, with similar clinical indicators, pathology and immune responses.
Information from studies in animals, including ferrets, played a key role in the development of the anti-viral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza that are now used to successfully treat cases of swine flu, and ferrets are also crucial to tests that assess the safety and effectiveness of potential flu vaccines before they can enter human trials.
We encourage the citizens of Market Rasen and the wider area to support Geoff Douglas and the valuable work his farm does to support top class medical research in England.
Dr Paul Browne
member of Oxford-based campaign Pro-test
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Weather for Market Rasen
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
