Two humans cleared after foot-and-mouth tests

Two more cases of suspected foot-and-mouth in humans have proved negative.

Britain's Public Health Laboratory Service says eight of the 13 samples being investigated have now tested negative for the disease.

A spokesman refused to reveal the identities of those whose results are now known or whether they include Northumberland farm worker Paul Stamper.

The spokesman said the latest results mean it is now "very unlikely" that any of the eight people tested so far have foot-and-mouth.

However, he said that follow-up blood tests to check for the presence of viral antibodies would now be completed two weeks after the illness was first suspected in each case.

"It is very unlikely that any of the eight people we have tested are human cases of FMD (foot-and-mouth disease)," he added.

"But to exclude any possibility of infection antibody tests need to be conducted on blood samples."

Tests on saliva, blood and blister fluid samples from five other patients are continuing.