I propose to circulate the tuberculosis and brucellosis statistics for the past three years requested by the Deputy in tabular form in the Official Report.
On tuberculosis, it is expected that the number of reactors this year will be about the same as last year when 44,500 reactors were disclosed. These levels are too high. I am particularly concerned at the increase in the number of reactors identified over the past two years. At the same time it should be borne in mind that 99.5% of the country's 7.7 million cattle pass the TB test each year.
Veterinary opinion both here and in the United Kingdom is that TB infected badgers are a major constraint to TB eradication. For this reason I have arranged for the effect of badger removal on TB levels in cattle to be studied in detail. The east Offaly badger removal project has been in place for some time and further research commenced in four area experimental projects in parts of Cork North, Donegal, Kilkenny and Monaghan in 1997. I have also arranged for a number of initiatives in areas where disease levels are particularly high. Herds in these areas are being subjected to a more intensive testing regime in addition to the annual round test of each and every herd.
As regards brucellosis, following a period when the incidence was relatively stable, the position deteriorated from 1996. To address the problem I introduced a series of measures during 1997 and at the beginning of 1998. These included more frequent milk ring testing, annual blood testing of all eligible cattle, a compulsory 30 day pre-movement test and movement restrictions on foot of tests. These measures were retained for 1999 and at the beginning of November 5.24 million blood samples had been tested. In addition, a range of operational/administrative measures were introduced aimed at improving the operation and delivery of the brucellosis eradication programme.
This year I introduced a number of further initiatives, including the screening of cows at factories, improved arrangements in respect of the milk ring test regime, a review of laboratory testing procedures and wider contiguous monitoring of herds. The current regime was reviewed during 1999 by an EU veterinary mission, which broadly endorsed the measures in place and being introduced.
Additional Information.
The full impact of the new measures is still being evaluated but already there are some signs that the position is improving. For example, the testing regime up to 26 November 1999 identified a significantly lower number of laboratory positive animals at 4,421 compared with 6,251 for the same period in 1998. There have also been fewer new herd breakdowns to the end of October 1999 compared with the corresponding period in 1998. Nevertheless, the disease level remains far too high and it is essential that we continue to make rapid further progress and the objective has to be eradication of the disease in the shortest possible timescale. If we properly implement the current arrangements it will be possible to achieve that objective.
The arrangements to be applied from next year onwards for both schemes will be discussed in the animal health forum which is representative of farmer and veterinary interests shortly.
|
Number of Herds with TB Reactors
|
|
|
|
Number of Herds with Brucellosis Reactors
|
|
|
|
County
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
|
|
Carlow
|
168
|
127
|
160
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
Cavan
|
475
|
427
|
651
|
6
|
1
|
23
|
|
|
Clare
|
370
|
303
|
394
|
7
|
10
|
12
|
|
|
Cork N/E
|
655
|
608
|
636
|
89#
|
102
|
102
|
|
|
Cork S/W
|
695
|
598
|
638
|
25#
|
24
|
79
|
|
|
Donegal
|
186
|
149
|
236
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
|
|
Dublin
|
63
|
50
|
44
|
2*
|
2*
|
3*
|
|
|
Galway
|
438
|
388
|
529
|
16
|
21
|
40
|
|
|
Kerry
|
391
|
417
|
609
|
123
|
149
|
161
|
|
|
Kildare
|
154
|
138
|
164
|
7**
|
11**
|
16**
|
|
|
Kilkenny
|
448
|
430
|
427
|
14
|
3
|
15
|
|
|
Laois
|
218
|
166
|
180
|
16
|
30
|
29
|
|
|
Leitrim
|
76
|
116
|
209
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
|
|
Limerick
|
417
|
435
|
470
|
122
|
192
|
218
|
|
|
Longford
|
163
|
169
|
172
|
2
|
1
|
6
|
|
|
Louth
|
191
|
254
|
239
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
|
Mayo
|
260
|
245
|
273
|
7
|
20
|
32
|
|
|
Meath
|
558
|
504
|
550
|
17
|
19
|
29
|
|
|
Monaghan
|
592
|
455
|
698
|
13
|
50
|
42
|
|
|
Offaly
|
208
|
166
|
168
|
13
|
28
|
48
|
|
|
Roscommon
|
322
|
331
|
421
|
10
|
19
|
29
|
|
|
Sligo
|
145
|
198
|
372
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
|
|
Tipp South
|
306
|
308
|
390
|
62#
|
31
|
47
|
|
|
Tipp North
|
257
|
210
|
290
|
30#
|
64
|
105
|
|
|
Waterford
|
207
|
193
|
233
|
17
|
10
|
17
|
|
|
Westmeath
|
250
|
223
|
321
|
12
|
18
|
18
|
|
|
Wexford
|
408
|
355
|
355
|
17
|
13
|
3
|
|
|
Wicklow E
|
168
|
136
|
135
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
|
|
Wicklow W
|
78
|
40
|
91
|
**
|
**
|
**
|
|
|
*Dublin and Wicklow East statistics compiled together.
**Kildare and Wicklow West statistics compiled together.
#Figures for Cork North and Cork South and Tipperary North and Tipperary South are estimated figures based on information obtained from the epidemiological data.