State's first foot-and-mouth case confirmed

The Taoiseach has said two of the samples taken from sheep on a farm in Co Louth have been confirmed as positive for foot-and-mouth disease.

This is a major disappointment, given the intensity of efforts of all sections of society here to keep the disease out of Ireland. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern speaking in the Dáil today

Speaking in the Dail this morning Mr Ahern said: "I have to inform the House that the results of two of the tests have proved positive. This is a major disappointment, given the intensity of efforts of all sections of society here to keep the disease out of Ireland."

The Taoiseach said the outbreak, at Jenkinstown, close to the Co Louth border with Northern Ireland, was a secondary one.

"A new security zone was set up there last night. A number of other issues directly arise.

"We have to prepare as soon as possible on how this is handled at national level and other matters arise."

The Department of Agriculture has imposed a 10 km exclusion zone around the farm. The results came through from the laboratory in Surrey this morning.

A sheep showing possible signs of the virus was detected on Tuesday night at the farm near Dundalk - just three miles from the location in Co Armagh where Northern Ireland's only reported case of the disease was detected last month.

Almost 200 sheep on the Louth farm were culled as a precaution and a rigorous restriction zone was extended in the area.