Samples from suspect Louth lamb sent for tests

Officials from the Department of Agriculture will send samples from sheep showing symptoms of foot-and-mouth for tests to Pirbright in Surrey this evening.

Officials from the Department of Agriculture will send samples from sheep showing symptoms of foot-and-mouth to Pirbright in Surrey this evening.

The lamb is among a consignment of sheep at a farm on the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth - near last week's outbreak at Proleek.

Officials say they are more concerned with this sample than with the others sent from a meat plant in Co Wexford.

The Department is already awaiting results from samples from farms in counties Waterford and Wexford to see if the disease is spreading.