Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:115 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the extent to which he can identify a time within which bovine tuberculosis will be completely eradicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20998/02]
Written Answers. - Bovine Diseases.
When the bovine tuberculosis eradication scheme commenced in 1955 the overall incidence of the disease was 17% and it was much higher in cows – 22% – than in other cattle – 8%. In 1960 almost 140,000 reactors were disclosed. When the level of disease had dropped to about 0.5% in 1965 the country was declared attested and the belief was that the remaining level of infection could be eliminated. In recent years 30,000 to 40,000 animals continue to be removed annually as reactors. This is despite a programme which has been operating to the limits of the available technology and the current knowledge of the dynamics of the disease. There is no doubt that the goal of eradication is a difficult one, but in continuing the present programme, which has been augmented by extra resources committed under the PPF and the use of technological enhancements, it is expected that the recent improvement will continue.
Research is under way in a number of areas to address the problems that have been experienced with Mycobacterium bovis infection. Significant improvement in the bovine TB problem should especially be seen after the development of an anti-TB vaccine for use in badgers, which, if successful, will reduce the development of the disease in this species and thus lower the risk of contact between an infectious badger and a susceptible bovine.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:116 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when he expects brucellosis to be completely eliminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20999/02]
Significant progress has been made in recent years towards the eradication of brucellosis. For example, in the first nine months of this year the number of new restrictions was 351, compared to 749 for the same period in 1998. Over the same period this year the number of reactors removed is 1,323 compared to 5,008 for the first nine months of 1998. The indications are that the reduction in the incidence of the disease will continue over the coming years, provided that the existing stringent control measures are maintained. However, as brucellosis is a highly contagious disease it is difficult to predict at this stage when the disease will be completely eradicated.