The leading microbiologist, Prof Hugh Pennington, said the meat and livestock industry could only be considered free from the risk of further disease once the incubation period - up to 14 days - is over.

His comments came the day after the Government confirmed that foot and mouth tests on cattle from Surrey had come back negative, raising hopes that the disease may have been restricted to animals from two farmers.

advertisementAsked if the outbreak was now over, Prof Pennington said: "I wouldn't want to do that until, certainly, the end of this possible incubation period. I think by the end of next week if we've seen no more cases, I think we can say it's highly, highly, highly, highly unlikely that there will be any more cases - not before then."

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said no further suspected cases of the disease had been reported today but also urged caution.

Source: Daily Telegraph