BBC News
 The
impact of pyres on human health is investigated
Test results
are due on a man believed to be the first human victim of foot-and-mouth
during this crisis.
This comes
ahead of findings expected later this week into the risks to humans
from potentially carcinogenic dioxins released from animal pyres.
And the outbreak
has also forced the cancellation of the Isle of Man TT races.
By Tuesday
the total number of confirmed foot-and-mouth cases in the UK had
reached 1,456.
The man suspected
of being the first human victim of foot-and-mouth disease in the
current outbreak is awaiting blood test results.
The contractor
had been helping with the slaughtering and disposal of animals
in Cumbria.
Experts say
the illness is only mild in humans.
Dr Peter Tiplady,
of North Cumbria Health Authority, said the man developed symptoms,
including ulcers in the mouth and sore itchy hands, two weeks
after he was accidentally sprayed with some material from a cow.
"It is
not a very serious illness. He is not at all unwell, and we expect
him to make a complete recovery," he said.
Scientific
advice is that it is highly improbable for the virus to pass from
animals into the human population, so the general population is
not at risk.
Angus Nichol,
director of the communicable diseases surveillance unit of the
Public Health Laboratory Service, said: "Basically this is
an animal virus - it doesn't like human beings."
The only previous
human case in the UK was in 1966, when a single patient suffered
no long-lasting effects to his health.
Meanwhile
there are growing concerns about pollutants being given off from
the burning pyres.
Decision on
races
Officials
in Devon and Wales are checking sites for a range of pollutants.
Environment
Minister Michael Meacher has conceded the pyres could be a health
risk.
On the Isle
of Man farmers feared the 40,000 spectators to the TT races would
increase the risk of bringing the disease to the island and put
its Loaghtan sheep in danger.
We have a
quarter of a million livestock here and we are foot-and-mouth
free as we were in 1967
Tynwald spokesman
The island's
chief minister Donald Gelling made the expected announcement following
a sitting of the Tynwald parliament on Tuesday.
The motorbike
trials, which started in 1907, have only been cancelled during
wartime and were postponed in 1966 during the national seamen's
strike.
Meanwhile
at a meeting of EU Agricultural ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday
Austria will ask for a suspension of anti-fraud measures on farms
getting EU subsidies to halt the further spread of foot-and-mouth.
Farms are
checked to ensure farmers are not cheating on the amount of subsidies
they are entitled to.
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