A precautionary cull at a farm close to Armagh city was called off yesterday after vets from the North's Department of Agriculture decided the infection was not due to the foot-and-mouth virus.
The decision was taken as the burning of carcasses on pyres continued on farms in Ardboe, Co Tyrone, and close to Cushendall, Co Antrim, the scene of the two recent outbreaks, the first since Meigh, Co Armagh, on March 1st.
The farm near Armagh is under restriction until test results arrive from Pirbright. However, it is understood the sheep and cattle showing clinical symptoms responded to antibiotics, indicating the infection was bacterial rather than viral.
The North's Minister for Agriculture, Ms Brid Rodgers, said yesterday the second of two suspect cases in Ardboe had also proved negative. Another suspect case in Newtown Crommelin, belonging to the same farmer at the centre of the case in Cushendall, had been "downgraded". Precautionary culls had already taken place at both locations.
"We are carrying out extensive clinical examinations and blood-testing of the remaining sheep flocks in the 10 km zones around the outbreaks," Ms Rodgers added. By next week the Department is expected to increase its testing capability in Belfast from 1,500 to 10,000 samples a day. Ms Rodgers repeated Monday's call by the North's Executive for anyone with information on the unauthorised movement of animals to come forward. A ban has now been imposed on the movement of animals.
She admitted she was "extremely concerned" about some information coming in which, if true, could prove "disastrous" for the agriculture industry.
"Over the Easter holidays it has become apparent that some farmers still think that this problem is someone else's," she said.
"I continue to receive daily reports of farmers moving livestock without licences or wishing to do so on the basis that the disease is present only in some other area or that it exists only in sheep smuggled in from Great Britain.
"I have to emphasise that neither of those two assumptions is correct. Every farmer, wherever he lives in Northern Ireland, must assume that there are infected livestock next door."
Ms Rodgers said she would consider lifting restrictions to allow movement to slaughter before the end of the week and would also examine the possibility of welfare-related movements.
Mr John Gilliland of the Ulster Farmers' Union said the current mood was one of apprehension. "Where are we going to see the virus cropping up again?" he asked.
It was vital that farmers did not move animals, that cattle and sheep were kept apart and that inspections were conducted twice a day and in such a manner as to ensure cattle were seen first and then sheep.