NI foot-and-mouth tests negative

The farm at the centre of the latest alert

The first results of tests on cattle in County Tyrone suspected of having foot-and-mouth disease have proved to be negative.

The news on Thursday morning came a day after the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture said it was investigating what it called a "hot suspect" case on a cattle farm near Cookstown.

The whole of Northern Ireland has been holding its breath for the last 24 hours

Brid Rodgers
Agriculture minister

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers said it appeared the animals at the centre of the scare were suffering from a mucosal disease.

She also said the final result of tests on blood samples from the cattle would not be known for a further four or five days.

Mrs Rodgers said that while the preliminary result was an enormous relief, she wanted to reinforce her advice to farmers to continue their vigilance and comply with the guidelines for protection against the disease.

"I know that the whole of Northern Ireland has been holding its breath for the last 24 hours and it is a source of great comfort to us all that our worst fears were unfounded."

Paddy Donnelly: Great relief

The farmer at the centre of the alert, Paddy Donnelly, said it was a "big relief".

"It was a big worry from it started," he said.

Northern Ireland's Chief Veterinary Officer Bob McCracken said the suspected case had been in a very productive area and slaughter teams had been on standby.

Northern Ireland's only foot-and-mouth outbreak so far was in a sheep flock at Meigh in south Armagh on 1 March.

More than 2,000 animals in surrounding farms were slaughtered immediately after the Meigh outbreak.

In a follow-up precautionary move, 9,500 sheep in south Armagh were culled after an outbreak of the disease a few miles across the border with the Irish Republic in County Louth.

The precautionary cull led to the European Commission granting regional export status to Northern Ireland.

Exports of meat and diary products resumed on 3 April with the exception of the Newry and Mourne council area, where disease restrictions remain in place.

The Department of Agriculture can be contacted on its helpline numbers on 02890 524279 or 02890 524590 between 0830 - 2100 GMT.