Portugal has detected antibodies of foot-and-mouth disease in two cows imported from The Netherlands, Agriculture Minister Mr Luis Capoulas Santos said tonight.
He said the cows were tested as part of a programme applying to all livestock imported since February 1st and not destined for slaughter.
"The presence of antibodies does not mean there is a . . . positive case of the disease. But as a precaution we decided to destroy the two animals," he said.
The minister said Portuguese veterinary authorities had sent blood samples from the two cows to a laboratory in Brescia, Italy, to confirm the findings.
Mr Capoulas Santos said he might support vaccinating livestock against foot and mouth if the highly contagious disease were to spread further in France, where its presence was confirmed yesterday.
