Vol. 545 No. 3
50 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will report on the epidemiological investigations to date by officials of his Department on the occurrence of BSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30161/01]
An epidemiological investigation is carried out in the case of all BSE suspects, which are notified to my Department whether these animals are confirmed positive or negative. In addition, an epidemiological investigation is carried in the case of all animals, which test positive under Ireland's active surveillance programme. The principal epidemiological features identified by these investigations are as follows: all cases diagnosed to date have been born in or before May 1996, which is prior to the introduction of additional controls on the utilisation of MBM at the end of 1996. This is a positive indication that the enhanced BSE controls introduced are having the desired effect. The majority of cases in all years have been diagnosed in the 5 and 6 year-old category. However, this year has seen a shift in the age profile of cases towards the older age groups. Whereas in previous years the majority of cases had been diagnosed in the 5 year old category, this year the majority of cases have been diagnosed in the 6 year old age category with an increase in the percentage of seven and eight year olds compared to earlier years. Again, this is a favourable sign that younger animals have not been exposed.
