More suspected cases of Bluetongue have been identified in Northern Ireland.
A suspected outbreak of the virus was first identified in two cattle on a holding near Bangor in Co Down on Saturday.
A further 44 suspected cases have now been identified in the same herd, while the initial two cases have been confirmed as positive.
A livestock movement ban was introduced with a 20km radius and officials in Stormont's Department of Agriculture have been liaising with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland as part of all-island control measures.
Stormont's Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has expressed disappointment at the development.
He said plans are now in place for further testing on other farms in the 20km control zone.
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon had both expressed concern about the outbreak and the potential impact if it was to spread. Those fears have now been realised.
IFA President Francie Gorman said today that the increase in the number of cases means the highest level of vigilance is needed across the sector, and across the island.
"The lower temperatures and reduced midge activity at this time of year does provide the opportunity to contain the outbreak," he said.
"The Department of Agriculture must work closely with DAERA in NI to achieve this and ensure we don't have any disruption to trade."
IFA Animal Health Chair TJ Maher said the Department of Agriculture must immediately move to have vaccines licensed and available for use.
While Bluetongue does not have implications for human health it can have serious consequences for livestock and the agri-food industry, with movement restrictions in place on all animals in affected areas.
