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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 2

Written Answers. - Bovine Diseases.

Question:

19 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of cases of BSE reported to date; the number of cases reported in the months of February and March 2002; the counties in which all cases in February and March 2002 were discovered; the number of cases which were discovered in each of those counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11887/02]

A total of 128 cases of BSE have been confirmed to date. Of these, 45 cases occurred in February and 30 cases occurred in March. The following table outlines details of the counties and numbers involved.

The number of confirmed cases of BSE has increased recently arising from the introduction of active surveillance conducted on fallen and casualty animals and other animals being slaughtered. Since 1 July 2001, all cattle over 30 months of age slaughtered for human consumption and all casualty and fallen animals over 24 months of age must be tested for BSE using the so-called "rapid test", approved by the scientific steering committee of the European Commission. The majority of the additional cases were confirmed in fallen animals which were not intended for the human food chain.

It is worth noting that despite the vastly increased levels of active surveillance, BSE has not been confirmed in an animal born after October 1996. This indicates that the enhanced controls introduced in 1996 are working, and that the disease should begin to work its way out of the national herd as older animals leave the system.

County

Number of casesin February

Number of Casesin March

Carlow

2

1

Cavan

3

6

Clare

1

0

Cork (North)

3

2

Cork (South)

1

1

Donegal

3

2

Galway

1

1

Kerry

3

2

Kildare

0

1

Kilkenny

1

2

Laois

0

1

County

Number of casesin February

Number of Casesin March

Leitrim

1

0

Limerick

3

1

Longford

1

0

Louth

0

1

Mayo

3

0

Meath

0

1

Monaghan

6

3

Offaly

1

0

Roscommon

3

1

Sligo

1

2

Waterford

2

0

Westmeath

3

1

Wexford

3

1

Totals

45

30

Michael Bell

Question:

20 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of outbreaks of botulism in cattle here in 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11903/02]

Botulism in cattle is not a notifiable disease under the Diseases of Animal Acts. However, samples from animals may be submitted for testing to my Department's central veterinary laboratory or regional veterinary laboratories at the discretion of a private veterinary practitioner or upon request by a herdowner through his or her private veterinary practitioner. In 2001, no outbreaks of botulism in cattle were recorded by my Department's central veterinary laboratory or regional veterinary laboratories.

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