The slaughterman suspected of being the first human victim of the foot-and-mouth outbreak has spoken of his fears of developing the disease.
Paul Stamper, 33, of Dearham, Cumbria, is one of three suspected victims waiting for test results.
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If he is confirmed as suffering from the disease, it is thought he caught it as a cow on a pile of decomposing carcasses exploded, covering him in fluid.
At the time of the gas explosion he had been transporting dead cattle on to a pyre at a farm in Wigton, Cumbria, earlier this month.
He has told the Daily Mailnewspaper: "It doesn't seem real and I'm terrified of what it may mean."
The father-of-two told the newspaper: "It tasted like it smelled. I spat it out as quickly as I could but I didn't think it was dangerous."
Two weeks later Mr Stamper came down with flu-like symptoms, and blisters developed inside his mouth.
Test results are expected on Monday.
PA