The North's Agriculture Minister has expressed cautious optimism that the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease can be contained in Northern Ireland.
Addressing a meeting of the interdepartmental foot-and-mouth monitoring group at the weekend, Ms Brid Rodgers said the latest test results from Purbright Laboratories confirmed there had been no further suspect cases of the disease.
"We had no suspect cases which have necessitated sending samples to Purbright. In other words there are no hot suspects at all," the Minister said.
Two suspect cases - one in Castlederg, Co Tyrone, which had come to the attention of a laboratory in Omagh, Co Tyrone, the other in Ballynure, Co Antrim - had proved negative according to preliminary results.
Ms Rodgers said she was now "somewhat more optimistic" that the outbreak of foot-and-mouth in Meigh, south Armagh, might remain the only confirmed case in the North.
"It is difficult to be happy, but I would say that I am somewhat more optimistic than I was four or five days ago. But I want to emphasise that we are not yet out of the woods", she added.
All livestock at risk within a one-kilometre radius of the Meigh farm, including a nearby cattle herd, are expected to be slaughtered as a precaution. On Saturday 300 sheep and 37 cattle were slaughtered and burnt on a farm at Banbridge, Co Down.
The measure was taken as it is believed the haulier involved in bringing the infected sheep to Meigh might have visited the Banbridge farm.
In total, 1,400 animals have been slaughtered across Northern Ireland in an effort to prevent further outbreaks.
The Minister confirmed that a number of sheep imported illegally from Scotland and dispersed in the south Derry area were being investigated for the disease. Some of the animals are believed to have been sold at a market in Swatragh, Co Derry, last month, and are still being traced by Department officials.
Ms Rodgers praised farmers and members of the public for adhering to the restrictions and advice issued by her Department to try to stop the disease's spread. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein has reacted angrily to comments made by an SDLP MLA, Mr John Fee, accusing farmers in south Armagh of being "intent on ensuring" that Department of Agriculture restrictions would not be effective. Mr Fee also alleged that officials had been intimidated by "erstwhile republicans".
The Sinn Fein MLA for the area, Mr Conor Murphy, called on Mr Fee to "immediately and unconditionally" withdraw his "scurrilous and untrue allegations", which had caused a "good deal of anger" in south Armagh.
"Mr Fee's comments have been refuted by his party colleague and Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers, by the Irish Minister of Agriculture Joe Walsh, by the RUC, by customs officials, and most importantly, by the people of south Armagh," Mr Murphy said.