Fears of a further spread of the foot-and-mouth virus have increased after the identification by Northern Ireland agriculture officials of three further possible cases in the Arboe area of Co. Tyrone. The cases have been referred to by officials as 'hot-suspects' and samples have been sent for tests.
The North's agriculture minister Bríd Rodgers earlier called on farmers to seal off their farms and halt all animal movements if the spread of the Foot and Mouth virus was to be avoided after the confirmation of a third positive case in Co. Antrim.
Speaking at a news conference at her headquarters in East Belfast, she said the situation was now extremely serious.
The Northern Ireland Chief Veterinary Officer, Mr Bob McCracken, hasconfirmed that none of the cases to date had been wind-borne, but said the source was still being investigated. Mr McCracken said controlling the disease would be require the sealing-off of every farm in Northern Ireland.
The latest outbreak was confirmed this morning near Cushendall, Co Antrim. It was identified less than two days after a case was found in Ardboe, Co Tyrone.
Culls were in progress at both sites today and theBritish army was called in to help incinerate infected carcasses at the site in Co Tyrone.
Officials had believed they had succeeded in containing the disease after theonly other instance of foot-and-mouth in Northern Ireland which found six weeks ago in a flock of sheep at Meigh in South Armagh.
The EU export ban was lifted in most of Northern Ireland two weeks ago as the disease had not recurred but was rescinded after yesterday's discovery in Antrim.