Fresh suspect FMD case in North

Northern Ireland has had a fresh suspect case of foot-and-mouth, it emerged today.

Stormont Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers said today that her veterinary officials tested a dairy herd near Cookstown, Co Tyrone, last night after a number of cattle started showing symptoms of the disease.

"Samples have been taken and have been sent to Pirbright," she said.

"This suspect case shows that the risk of foot and mouth disease is still with us. I very much hope that this case will not be positive but at this point in time we must expect the worst.

"I would reinforce my advice to farmers to continue to be vigilant and to comply with the guidelines for protection against the disease."

The news will come as a bitter blow to Northen Ireland which has had only one case of the disease so far on a farm in Meigh in south Armagh near the border with the south.

The province had persuaded European Commission officials to allow meat exports to resume from Northen Ireland with the exception of one area - Newry and Mournes where the outbreak occurred.

An extensive cull of animals in south Armagh took place two weeks ago.

It is understood the suspect cases occurred on an out-farm of a large dairy farm near Cookstown.

Around 80% of 20 dairy heifers tested were showing symptoms suggestive of the disease.

However, veterinary officials were hoping that it could also be another viral condition normally found in calves.

Department of Agriculture officials are expecting test results on the suspect case this afternoon.

Democratic Unionist MLA Ian Paisley Junior said he hoped the latest foot-and-mouth scare in the province would prove unfounded.

The Stormont Assembly Agriculture Committee member said: "Obviously this raises the question if the disease is still here in Northern Ireland or whether it has been brought in.

"If this proves to be a hot case, it will show that the preventative measures that have been taken have been in vain and it will demand a fundamental rethink of the entire strategy to deal with this disease."