Extra vigilance urged after fresh outbreak

Agriculture authorities in the Republic urged extra vigilance against foot-and-mouth today after a confirmation of a second outbreak of the disease across the border in the north.

Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh stopped short of imposing fresh new moves to halt sporting and other activities throughout the Easter holiday weekend.

But the border with Ulster was effectively re-sealed after foot-and-mouth was detected among cattle in Ardboe, Co Tyrone, with the import of all food products from north to south immediately halted.

The Government’s task force of expert advisers, specially appointed to oversee and direct foot-and-mouth policy in the Republic, was meeting today to assess the situation in the light of overnight developments, and keeping Mr Walsh informed on a minute-by-minute basis.

Also on fresh alert were officials at the Irish Farmers’ Association.

Association President Tom Parlon said what had happened in Co Tyrone was ‘‘a major disappointment’’, and stressed that he was ‘‘very concerned at how it has occurred’’.

It appeared, Mr Parlon added, that the outbreak was probably unrelated to Northern Ireland’s earlier case, among sheep in Co Armagh, and there would have to be an full-scale investigation into how it had happened.

‘‘Finding the origin is a key factor and it is essential the virus is contained,’’ he commented. ‘‘There must be absolute vigilance all round.’’

Mr Walsh said the new case in the north served as a cross-border reminder of the need to maintain vigilance on an island-wide basis in Ireland.

‘‘All disinfecting measures across the whole country must be kept going relentlessly,’’ he declared.

Junior Agriculture Minister Noel Davern said the fact that the authorities had no idea how the latest case had got into Northern Ireland was ‘‘a real worry’’.

He added: ‘‘It could only have been transferred through animal movement or human contact.’’

Tourism Minister Dr Jim McDaid said he sympathised with his colleagues in the north on the development.

He declared, though: ‘‘Our precautionary methods in the Republic have been paying off to the point where we are now able to envisage a return to normality in encouraging and promoting tourism.’’

The President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Pat O’Rourke, said all livestock in the south should be inspected, and defences against the spread of the disease redoubled.