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Animal Diseases

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020

Tuesday, 21 July 2020

Questions (250, 252)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

250. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the sampling regime undertaken by the NPWS to identify prevalence of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus; the research being undertaken into the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17047/20]

View answer

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

252. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the areas and counties in which the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 has been detected over the past year; the date on which the virus was detected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17049/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 252 together.

Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD2) was first reported in wild rabbits in Ireland in early August 2019 and shortly after that in the Irish hare. Since then the disease has been confirmed in hares in three counties - Dublin, Wexford and most recently Kildare - and in wild rabbits from 12 counties: Carlow, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kerry, Leitrim, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow. While most of the reports are from the end of 2019, a number of new records of the disease were confirmed last week in rabbits from Clare and Cork and in hares from Wexford and Kildare.

The virus is known to be highly contagious and easily spread, and environmental contamination presents significant difficulties in terms of any biosecurity responses. The disease is known to have caused significant mortality among rabbits in parts of Ireland and the spillover into both the Irish hare population and domestic pet rabbits raises additional concerns. While a vaccine is available for pet rabbits this is not an option for wild animals.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department are working with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to develop a national survey of RHD2 in rabbits. This will involve sampling rabbits from hunting bags at different locations in every county of Ireland. All animals will be tested for RHD2 virus (which will demonstrate the presence of the disease) and RHD2 antibodies (to confirm previous exposure to the virus and subsequent recovery).

The results will provide a snapshot of the prevalence of RHD2 nationally in wild Irish rabbits and will hopefully highlight any geographical patterns that may be present. The results will also indicate if the prevalence of animals with detectable antibodies provides evidence that ‘herd immunity’ to the disease is developing among the rabbit population. It is hoped that an improved knowledge of the disease in rabbits will enhance our understanding of the risks that this disease poses to Irish hares.

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