North suffers third foot-and-mouth outbreak

Tests for the second suspected case of the foot-and-mouth disease in the North to surface this week, and the third case in all, have returned positive preliminary results.

This new case, from a farm in Co Antrim, has spread fears both North and South of the border of an outbreak similar to the one in England.

The President of the IFA, Tom Parlon, says that the route that the disease took must be traced and the risk removed.

He also stressed the importance of stepping the border control measures once again and emphasised the need to maintain Ireland’s regional status as regards exports.