Worries grow over Louth sheep
The net around a suspect foot-and-mouth farm in Co Louth has been further tightened as test results from sheep showing symptoms of the disease are just hours away.
Confirmation of the disease, from scientists studying the sheep samples in Surrey, would signal the first case in the Republic since the start of the current crisis - and mark a serious setback for Ireland's booming economy.
A sheep showing possible signs of the virus was detected on Tuesday night at the farm, which is situated just two miles from the location in Co Armagh where the island's only case of the disease was detected last month.
After the Armagh development, a stringent set of controls was introduced in a desperate attempt to keep out foot-and-mouth.
The restrictions included a near-total ban on the movement of animals, the cancellation and postponement of hundreds of sporting, social and cultural events and the precautionary slaughter of thousands of animals.
