Minister reveals precautionary measures

The Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, has outlined the new measures that are aimed at keeping the foot and mouth disease from spreading to Ireland.

The measures are to come into effect today. A ban has been placed on livestock markets that are near the Northern border.

Hunting has also been banned along with other farming events and agri-sporting fixtures across the country.

As well as these measures, Minister Walsh is determined to maintain the ban on UK meat and dairy produce in place, including the North, until British officials can give the all clear.

Doctor Kitching from the British Institute of animal health says that the current strain is a particularly strong one that evaded the precautionary measures on imports.

It is believed that the disease originated in animal feed from Asia.