Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
856. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which outbreaks of bovine TB have been isolated and attributed in each of the past five years to date; the measures taken or proposed to curtail any spread in the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42065/20]
View answerThe table at the link details the number of herds experiencing a new restriction, due to bovine TB, since 1st January each year, by county. While TB disease is low relative to historical levels, the number of new restrictions and reactor numbers have been gradually increasing since 2016. The pace of deterioration has accelerated in 2020.
The reasons for the increased TB incidence in the herds in these areas are multi-factorial and require a range of measures to address the issue. Within each county the TB programme focuses on wildlife, how disease is distributed in the area, contiguous programmes, gamma interferon testing, cleansing and disinfection, testing compliance and frequency and isolation of reactors. Each TB outbreak is investigated by a veterinary inspector to identify the source of infection. In the case of every outbreak involving two or more standard reactors, there is a veterinary visit to advise the herdowner on how to eliminate infection and necessary measures to assist in reducing the risk of recurrence.
My Department is engaged with all stakeholders through the TB Forum to bring forward a renewed strategy to move forward towards eradication of the disease.
Please see www.bovinetb.ie for more information.
