Foot-and-mouth test results on a calf found on a farm near Drumcollogher on the CorkLimerick border on Friday last may be available from the Pirbright international laboratory later today.
This was confirmed by the Minister for Agriculture, who sought clarification in Brussels yesterday from the British authorities on reports that the government had stopped disinfecting farms where foot-and-mouth had occurred.
The British government faced stern criticism at home and in Europe over its decision to temporarily suspend final-stage cleaning and disinfecting on farms in England and Wales hit by foot-and-mouth.
The Prime Minister, Mr Blair, ordered a review of spending on the programme, which costs on average £2 million sterling a day, after information from other EU countries indicated they were paying 10 per cent less for some cleaning and disinfecting operations.
Faced with a possible final bill to the taxpayer of £800 million, the government said disinfection in England and Wales should be cost-effective.
While the review is taking place, final or second-stage cleaning and disinfecting, which involves cleaning all areas on a farm where livestock have been held and farm buildings and equipment, is suspended.
But preliminary cleaning on farms, which occurs immediately after animals are slaughtered, will continue.
The government also announced the creation of a biosecurity zone around Thirsk, in north Yorkshire, to prevent the spread of the disease to nearby pig herds. A cluster of 10 new outbreaks have been confirmed in Thirsk in recent weeks.