Foot-and-mouth precautions continue

Farms in a number of counties remain sealed off this morning following the confirmation last week that foot-and-mouth disease has spread to Ireland.

Four farms in Co. Meath and another in Co. Laois are under investigation because of suspect sheep and cattle.

However, the Department of Agriculture has insisted the measures are purely precautionary and so far, the two cases in Proleek, Co. Louth are the only incidences of the highly infectious virus in the Republic.

Farms in Trim, Longwood and Fairyhouse in Co. Meath and at Spink in Co. Laois have been sealed off amid fears that sheep which passed through south Armagh may be in the Republic.

The only case of foot and mouth disease in the North was discovered on a sheep farm in Meigh and the Department of Agriculture is worried it has not traced all the animals who may have had contact with that infected flock.

Meanwhile, the slaughter of animals in the Cooley Peninsula in Co. Louth is continuing today in a bid to contain the disease. Some reports say 40,000 animals may have to be destroyed.

There has also been renewed criticism of the British Government's containment efforts: Beef baron Larry Goodman said the authorities in the UK did "too little, too late" to save the farming industry.