Another German foot-and-mouth scare

German officials were today testing two sheep found dead with symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease.

The sheep were found in the western state of Hesse. Veterinary officials said they had blisters around their mouth and feet typical signs of infection.

The two animals, as well as blood and saliva samples from thousands of other sheep, cattle and pigs in the area, were being tested for the disease, the state Social Affairs Ministry said.

Fears of the disease’s arrival in Germany have intensified this week, with suspected cases regularly leading television news bulletins.

All tests have so far come out negative and Germany’s agriculture minister moved to damp mounting panic while admitting the risk of an outbreak is ‘‘very high.’’