"Officers are also investigating how a consignment of potentially dangerous
mumps vaccine was sent to one of Direct Health 2000's suppliers. The
vaccine sent by a German distributor turned out to be of the Urabe strain,
banned in Britain since 1992 as it can cause viral meningitis in babies. "
Sunday Times 28/4/02
http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/article/0,,177-281008,00.html
Health clinic fears MMR dirty tricks after bugging
Adam Nathan
POLICE have launched an investigation after an electronic listening device
was found at the biggest clinic specialising in giving single vaccinations
for measles, mumps and rubella. The device, which was active, had been
hidden in a ceiling panel at the south London headquarters of Direct Health
2000, which provides single-jab alternatives to the controversial triple
MMR vaccination.
The company brought in a firm of security experts to sweep the premises
after a burglary at its Liverpool branch two months ago in which computer
disks containing thousands of patients' details were stolen.
The subsequent discovery of the listening device two weeks ago has led to
fears that the private clinic may be the victim of a dirty tricks campaign.
At Greenwich CID, Detective Constable Nicholas Swindells said: "We are
keeping an open mind about motive but it could be that someone is targeting
this company because of the wider political issues involved. We will take
the investigation as far as we can."
The Department of Health has emphasised that it does not support single
vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella. The government has mounted
campaigns to persuade parents the MMR jab is safe after some research
linked it to autism and bowel disorders in children.
Falling uptake of the triple vaccine around the country have led to
outbreaks of measles among children. So far no child has died but more
local epidemics are expected.
The bug was found by Stuart Wright, of Spectrum, a Kent-based security firm
and was passed to police by Direct Health 2000 for analysis. Wright said it
was a simple FM device with a transmitting range of about 300 yards and a
battery life of up to 10 weeks.
"The person who planted this device would have been able to listen in from
a neighbouring building or vehicle or may have had an automatic recording
machine hidden nearby," he said. It was planted in the area where staff
take calls from patients and offer advice. The company has given single
jabs to at least 20,000 children.
Sarah Dean, Direct Health 2000's managing director, asked for the sweep
after it was noticed that light fittings and ceilings at the Liverpool
office had been interfered with during the burglary. At the time, police
believed it might have been an attempt to find out whether Tony Blair's son
Leo - or the children of other prominent people - had been given single
jabs rather than MMR.
Last week Merseyside police renewed their inquiries into the Liverpool
burglary and are liaising with the Metropolitan police. One theory is that
the bug may have been placed by an insider or someone with access to the
London office as there has been no evidence of a break-in.
Officers are also investigating how a consignment of potentially dangerous
mumps vaccine was sent to one of Direct Health 2000's suppliers. The
vaccine sent by a German distributor turned out to be of the Urabe strain,
banned in Britain since 1992 as it can cause viral meningitis in babies.
"Our worry is that if the vaccine had been used unintentionally by us, or
even been brought on to our premises, it could have been used as an excuse
to shut us down," said a Direct Health 2000 spokesman.