The British government's chief scientist says the foot-and-mouth outbreak is "fully under control".
Professor David King delivered the news after reporting a significant drop in the daily number of cases in the past two weeks.
He said at the end of last month the daily tally stood at an average of 43 new cases a day, but that had fallen to 27 by last Sunday.
"On the basis of the fall in the number of cases being reported, the epidemic now is fully under control," Prof King said.
"If 14 days ago we had 40 infected premises then today we should have 20 and in two more weeks we should have 10."
Prof King said the optimistic outlook could now also be applied to the worst-hit area of Cumbria.
Both there and elsewhere, he said, the nationwide policy of culling infected livestock within 24 hours and animals on neighbouring farms within 48 hours was working.