Bernard J. Durkan
Question:57 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps he has taken to identify the cause or causes of BSE in the case of animals born after 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25909/02]
Written Answers. - Bovine Diseases.
Four animals born in 1997 have been confirmed as BSE positive. An animal born in 1999 has also been confirmed with the disease. This animal was discovered when the herd cohorts of a 1993-born infected animal were depopulated and tested.
The general trend of the disease is encouraging in that the age profile of animals confirmed with the disease is increasing. In 2002 less than 2% of cases have been identified in animals less than six years old at the time of diagnosis, compared to 16% in 2001 and 40% in 2000. In addition in the period August-November 2002, inclusive, the number of BSE cases identified, 102 is down by more than one third on the corresponding period of 2001, 157. Therefore, while isolated cases in animals born after 1996 are disappointing, the important factor is the overall trend.
This trend illustrates the effect the controls introduced in 1996 and 1997 are having on the rate of infectivity. The increasing age profile of animals in which the disease is confirmed is a positive indication that these additional controls are having the desired effect and that the incidence of BSE will decline as older animals leave the system.
In the meantime consumers and others can be assured that a comprehensive range of measures remains in place for the control and eradication of BSE. If any adjustments are deemed necessary in light of operational experience, they will be made. Current controls include,inter alia, compulsory notification of the disease, whole herd depopulation, tracing and culling of birth cohorts and progeny of BSE-infected animals, a ban on feeding meat and bonemeal to all farmed animals intended for human consumption, ante and post mortem inspections at all meat plants, the removal of specified risk material from the human food and animal feed chains, and a comprehensive active surveillance programme among all cattle over 30 months of age and all casualty cattle over 24 months of age in meat plants, and all fallen cattle over 24 months of age in knackeries.
My Department will continue to rigorously enforce these controls in a manner which, in first instance, provides assurance to consumers in relation to the quality and safety of Irish beef, which protects animal health and which safeguards the future of the very important Irish beef sector.
Billy Timmins
Question:58 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of reactor animals for the years 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25685/02]
The following table sets out the information requested:
|
Year |
Number of TBReactors |
Number of BRReactors |
|
1970 |
22,057 |
10,034 |
|
1980 |
29,827 |
39,991 |
|
1990 |
41,419 |
2,002 |
|
2001 |
33,702 |
3,142 |