asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will have the principles and practice of immunisation of bovine species or other animals susceptible to foot and mouth disease with biological products and in particular with polyvalent foot and mouth disease serum investigated and an inquiry made into the methods in practice in other countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foot and Mouth Disease.
I am aware of what is being done in this field and there is, therefore, no necessity for a special investigation into the methods in practice in other countries.
I am satisfied that the slaughter policy is the only one to adopt in the circumstances of this country. This is the policy followed by the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, South Africa and any other country which is free from the disease or which has succeeded in eradicating it, and it has the support of the leading international veterinary authorities.
The adoption of a policy of immunisation would be tantamount to an admission of inability to prevent the disease becoming established throughout a country. It would involve this country in crushing losses, in comparison with which the loss arising from slaughter is trifling.
Immunity following inoculation is relatively short-lived and immunity against one type or strain has not proved effective against another. Some vaccinated animals become carriers and these constitute a continuing source of infection. The establishment of immunity by vaccination does not develop inside 15 days and meantime there is no protection whatsoever against infection. In the case of the recent outbreaks on the Continent of Europe modified strains of virus made their appearance and up to the present, even though the latest vaccines have been in use, the spread of the disease has continued.
I am aware that there is a great deal of work done in regard to control of foot and mouth disease and of investigational activities related to this disease in various countries. The technical officers of my Department are constantly studying developments elsewhere, both in regard to control measures and experimental work. Furthermore, I know that the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations is at present actively developing on an international basis the investigation and control of foot and mouth disease. We are participating in this work and I have already assigned some of my technical officers to take active part in the development.
As worthwhile investigation and study of foot and mouth disease necessitates the use of living virus, I would not permit any work of the kind to be conducted in this country.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the possible methods of mass disinfection at the ports of entry to prevent the introduction into this country of the foot and mouth disease; and, if so, if an investigation will be undertaken to detect special risk personnel on landing and in travel, and, further, whether he will have a special inquiry made into all the possible methods of prevention of the spread of the disease.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has satisfied himself that the precautions taken at points of entry into the country to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease by travellers are being carried out so as to be effective; and, if not, if he will have the precautions necessary taken forthwith.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together.
The question of what precautions should be taken has been continuously under review, particularly since last November, when outbreaks of foot and mouth disease occured in Great Britain on a serious scale. Since that time special measures have been in operation for the disinfection of incoming sea and air passengers who may have been in contact with live stock or on farms in affected countries. A substantial number of passengers have been disinfected under these arrangements.
It is clear, however, that, no matter what precautions are taken, they cannot be made effective unless stock owners and others behave with a proper sense of their obligations. We had an example last week of un-co-operative and irresponsible conduct on the part of an exhibitor at the spring show which could have led to the gravest consequences. This exhibitor cannot evade the fact that, in bringing in from outside the country to prepare his stock for the show a man who had come from a place only a few miles from a farm where an outbreak had been confirmed a short time previously, he displayed a serious degree of negligence and irresponsibility.
To make any precautions fully effective, the co-operation of all concerned is a first essential. I am satisfied that this co-operation is being given by the vast majority of persons concerned. The precise official precautions in operation at any particular time are related to the degree of danger from abroad, which fluctuates from time to time. My Department has constantly under examination the precautionary measures which are necessary and practicable.
So far as I am aware, this is one of the very few countries where the disinfection of incoming passengers is attempted and, indeed, was the first country to adopt this precaution. The question of mass disinfection of all passengers has already been examined, and I am advised that this would, in practice, be less effective than individual disinfection on a selective basis. I am concentrating on increasing the efficacy of selective disinfection to the maximum.
I would like the House to appreciate that the introduction of the disease by persons is only one of the many ways in which the disease could be introduced. The elimination as far as possible of all sources of infection has been a constant preoccupation of my Department for years past and the precautionary measures have been intensified during the past six months.
Is the Minister satisfied that the steps taken to disinfect suspects coming in at Dublin Airport are adequate and carried out in a manner to make disinfestation effective.
Mr. Walsh
Yes.
Apart from the steps taken at Dublin Airport, have steps been taken at Dún Laoghaire and the North Wall in respect of passengers coming by sea?
Mr. Walsh
Yes. Steps have been taken at all ports.
Were steps taken at the beginning?
Mr. Walsh
Steps have been taken for the past six months.
I understood that steps were taken primarily at the airport but that no stringent steps were taken at the North Wall or Dún Laoghaire.
Mr. Walsh
Oh, yes, there were.
Would not the Minister consider it to have been wiser not to allow the cattle to assemble for the show?
Mr. Walsh
The assembly of the cattle at the show had nothing whatsoever to do with the spreading of the disease. The only way in which this country could have been involved was by taking into this country the person who had been in contact with cattle in an infected area, and coming here to handle cattle.
Would not the Minister agree that if there had been no assembly of the cattle such person would not, in fact, have been present in the country at all?