Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021
1027. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he has taken in response to reports of a rapid evolution of an aggressive strain of the neurological form of EHV-1 originating from Valencia that has resulted in outbreaks in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13200/21]
View answer1028. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contacts he and his officials have had with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive with regard to EHV-1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13201/21]
View answer1029. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quarantine and testing arrangements that have been put in place since his Department was notified of outbreaks of EHV-1 on the continent; when such measures were put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13202/21]
View answer1030. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he sought the advice of the chief veterinary officer in relation to the recent outbreak of EHV-1; if details of the advice received will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13203/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1027 to 1030, inclusive together.
My Department is monitoring the on-going outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus-1 in horses in continental Europe. My Chief Veterinary Officer and relevant officials met with representatives of Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) and the Irish Equine Centre (IEC) to develop an appropriate risk mitigating response. HSI, in consultation with my Department and the IEC have published a protocol for sport horses arriving in Ireland from high risk areas of Europe outlining the measures that horse owners should take to mitigate the risk of spread. I strongly endorse the recommendations in this protocol that requires all those competing horses, on returning to Ireland, to isolate and carry out two tests prior to completing quarantine. This is critical to the protection of our sector.
My officials continue to liaise closely with industry stakeholders and colleagues in Northern Ireland on this matter.
Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is a herpes virus that is widely distributed across the world, including in Ireland. It usually manifests as a respiratory or reproductive disease and occasionally in a paralytic form. The primary risk mitigating measures are biosecurity and vaccination. Given its ubiquitous nature and the availability of a vaccine, EHV-1 is not a notifiable disease and I have no plans at this time to make it a notifiable disease.
Given the extent that the virus seems to have spread across Europe and the description of the clinical outcome, I would urge all players in the equine industry to respond to the increased risk that this poses to the equine population in Ireland and to double down on their biosecurity practices and measures.
