British authorities yesterday eased restrictions on the movement of live animals in the country, but confirmed that a third Surrey farm is now suspected of exposure to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
Britain's chief veterinary officer, Debby Reynolds, ordered culling to take place on suspicion of the disease at the farm, which is adjacent to the second infected premises within the protection zone.
The existence of the virus on this second farm was confirmed on Tuesday. But the results of tests on the culled animals from the third farm are unlikely to be known until today at the earliest.
"I cannot rule out that disease is developing on the premises," Ms Reynolds told a news conference yesterday.
In a statement released yesterday, the British department of the environment also said the current ban on movements of susceptible animals would remain in place, but that licensing of animals outside the exclusion and protection zones would recommence.
"The decision has been taken to permit the movement of live animals direct to slaughter, and the collection of dead animals from farms," it said. "These general licences will only apply outside of the protection and surveillance zones."
However, following an emergency meeting of veterinary experts in Brussels yesterday, the EU decided to maintain a ban on all British fresh meat, milk and live animal exports. It will review the ban again on August 23rd.
Separately, a spokeswoman for the British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said details of a second report by the executive into the Pirbright facility in Surrey were not available. Pirbright houses the Institute of Animal Health and the private Merial pharmaceutical laboratory.
In an interim report released on Tuesday night, the executive said there was a "strong possibility" the site was the source of the outbreak and that this was caused by human movement.
Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, yesterday noted that the British HSE report was an initial report, and that the human movement aspect is being investigated further as a matter of urgency.
She did not think it was currently necessary to introduce further restrictions in Ireland or change any of the rules or regulations following confirmation of the second case.
Until such time as clearance was received from Britain, she would be hesitant to say that FMD would not spread here, she said, but she was working to ensure it did not travel to Ireland.
Ms Coughlan, who said she was "delighted" that the Dublin Horse Show could go ahead yesterday, and added that she was very pleased with the bio-security arrangements that the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) had put in place for the event.
Michael Duffy, chief executive of the RDS, said the main security measures in place involved disposal of the bedding and other material which was brought into the country from Britain, and the disinfecting of vehicles and other gear.
Ms Coughlan is due to meet with her advisory group this morning to be updated on developments.