Disruption caused by the foot-and-mouth outbreak will cost the UK economy an estimated £9 billion sterling this year, it was been claimed.
The figure, which equates to 1.1% of gross domestic product (GDP), covers the loss of earnings for farmers and suppliers, higher food prices and the impact on tourism.
The British Centre for Economics and Business Research says its estimates had spiralled more than threefold since the start of the month.
It also warned that the effect from the crisis would continue into next year, knocking another £2.1 billion from the GDP.
Meanwhile the mass cull of healthy animals to stamp out foot-and-mouth disease has already begun in the UK. Around 1,800 apparently healthy sheep have been slaughtered on two Scottish farms under a pre-emptive cull.
The slaughter scheme, which has yet to get under way in the rest of the UK, began yesterday on two farms in Morayshire and Aberdeenshire which had links to an infected market.
The move comes as another case of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in Scotland bringing the total to 41. Culls are expected to take place at four farms in the Highlands early next week.
A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said today: "Slaughter has been completed at the two farms and a total of about 1,800 sheep have been killed."
The farm with the new outbreak, which has not yet been named, is in Dumfries and Galloway - the only Scottish region to be hit by the outbreak.
Under the pre-emptive slaughter scheme, around 200,000 apparently healthy animals, sheep only, on about 500 Scottish farms will be slaughtered.
This came as the confirmed number of cases in the UK mainland rose to 298, including the first detected case in Shropshire.
PA