Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 March 2004
95 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the very serious outbreak of salmonella and BVD on the farm of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; the measures he intends to take to come to terms with this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8183/04]
View answerBovine virus diarrhoea, known as BVD, is not a notifiable disease under the Diseases of Animals Acts, nor is the particular strain of salmonella found in the cattle in the herd in question. Where individual problems occur, whether with notifiable or non-notifiable diseases, as they do from time to time on farms, the veterinary laboratory service, VLS, of my Department is available to support local veterinary practitioners and their clients. In this context, 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, PVP.
I understand that samples from the herd in question were submitted to the VLS by the herdowner's private veterinary practitioner for testing and that the VLS has advised the PVP of the results of all tests available to date. The investigation continues in regard to the disease situation in the herd and I understand that contact is being maintained between the VLS and the herdowner's PVP in regard to advice. Decisions regarding further treatment or vaccination regimes are in the first instance matters for discussion between the herdowner and his or her private veterinary practitioner.
