The prime minister will this weekend launch a "European media blitz" to stress that Britain is open for business despite the escalating foot and mouth epidemic.

Tony Blair has effectively taken on overall control of the government's response to the foot and mouth crisis in a bid to calm criticism of a possible May 3 general election.

The prime minister will use this weekend's European summit in Stockholm to press home the message that Britain is not "quarantined" as a result of the escalating problem in parts of rural Britain.

On Thursday the Labour leader moved quickly to be seen to be facing up to the scale of the crisis. After meetings in Downing Street with farmers' representatives, Blair went to Cumbria where he spoke with some of the people worst affected by the foot and mouth crisis. He said people in the area were facing a "terrible situation".

Speaking after an hour-long meeting, he told reporters: "Whatever practical resources in the area to get the thing and get it done properly we will do. What we have to do is massively gear up to the scale of the challenge, we have to make sure there's nothing that stands in the way of getting the job done, and the job is taking whatever action is necessary to bring the disease to an end as quickly as possible.''

As the prime minister arrived in Cumbria he was met with strong protests from locals angered at the government's slow progress on compensation and claims that the announcement of a general election would go ahead despite the crisis in the countryside.

At Westminster on Thursday there was renewed speculation that Blair was preparing to face down his critics and call a May 3 general election - with the announcement expected as early as Monday next week.

Blair's renewed effort came as the first case of foot and mouth disease was discovered in Ireland and the number of cases in the UK exceeded 450.

The government is understood to be preparing a raft of announcements to aid farmers and ailing rural businesses and has even taken its message to the US.

The tourism minister, Janet Anderson, was in New York on Thursday where she stressed that American tourists could visit the UK free of any fears about public health.