Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2004
5 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the resources being used to counter the growing incidence of Johne’s disease; the number of cases of the disease to date in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24696/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt should be stressed that Johne's disease is widespread in other EU member states and worldwide. It is a chronic infectious disease of cattle which gives rise to gradual wasting and loss of condition and is caused by infection with mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, or MAP. Most cattle are infected early in life. While adult animals can become infected, it is rare for them to do so. Usually, such animals have other problems including deficiencies of the immune system. The disease has been notifiable in this country since 1955.
Until 1992, strict import conditions were instrumental in ensuring that Johne's disease was relatively rare in Ireland. Since 1993, the increase in the number of cattle being imported with the advent of the Single Market has contributed to a significant increase in reported instances of the disease. Whereas a total of 92 animals were diagnosed in the 50-year period from 1932 to 1982, in 2002 and 2003 100 and 150 animals, respectively, were diagnosed as having Johne's disease. Figures on the incidence of Johne's disease for 2004 have not been collated. It can take up to six months to obtain results from samples submitted for culture due to the extremely slow growth pattern of the organism involved. In general, farmers appear to be more aware of the disease. The increased volume of samples, particularly of blood, being submitted for analysis suggests that an increasing number of farmers are actively managing the disease on their own farms.
I recognise the need for an effective national strategy to arrest and reverse the incidence of the disease. In an effort to raise awareness and to promote higher standards of hygiene management practices and calf rearing, the Department published two booklets on Johne's disease in 2002. One is aimed at farmers while the other addresses the private veterinary practitioner. All farmers with breeding animals received a copy of the booklet by post during 2002. The booklets detail the precautions individual farmers should take to keep the disease out of their herds and highlight that effective control measures centre on calf-rearing practices. In addition, it is prudent for any prospective purchaser to seek private certification of freedom from Johne's disease from a vendor of cattle imported from abroad or sourced within this country. As the effect of this approach is to protect the purchasing herd, farmers are urged generally to take such a precaution.
Until early 2003, my Department's approach was to slaughter the affected animals and, on occasion, other animals in the herd and pay compensation. When it became apparent that this approach was ineffective, it was dispensed with and a strategic review of mechanisms to tackle the disease was initiated. It is clear that nothing less than a fully integrated strategy involving all of the relevant stakeholders, in which each plays a defined role, will be effective. Accordingly, the review has involved consultation with all of the relevant interests. The process generated a number of very useful proposals of a practical nature.
It is clear that the effective tackling of Johne's disease can only be achieved over a number of years. The strategy being developed will, therefore, involve short and long-term elements. In conjunction with others, my Department is finalising a number of the short-term elements and will shortly revert to stakeholders on them. Once this has been done, all elements of the new national strategy will be quickly drawn together. As research, evaluation of a number of diagnostic and screening methods and interim provision of diagnostic support at the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory will be features of an effective national strategy, and €240,000 has been allocated for these purposes in 2004.
I thank the Minister for her extensive reply. One of the problems with MAP is the likelihood of subclinical infection, particularly if an infection already exists at the primary herd level. Is an active monitoring programme in place to take blood samples, as the Minister suggests can be done through the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory? I appreciate that the timescale to culture the particular micro-organism involved is very long and that clinical symptoms may have emerged over a six month period. It is nevertheless important to invest in research to assure everybody, particularly farmers, that there is an effective and rapid detection method to stop the disease progressing in a herd and to permit the removal of infected animals as quickly as possible.
The Minister did not answer an important aspect of my question. In the United Kingdom there is a considered view that there is a tenuous link with certain human illnesses. While that is not confirmed, there are various shades of opinion on the matter which it is very important to consider. We must address the disease at farm level to ensure its impact is minimised and take on board all the latest research findings in case of any possible transmission to humans. We have learned some very tough lessons in this regard from other animal diseases.
I agree with the Deputy. As I am not a veterinarian or from a diagnostic field, I will leave the matter in the hands of the experts, of which Deputy Upton is one. Overall, it is not a matter of finding a simple solution to a difficult problem. I am very anxious to ensure the proper implementation of a national strategy. It is my intention to introduce the strategy as soon as possible and, hopefully, by the end of the year. The Deputy is correct to say that screening is very important which is why the evaluation of diagnostic and screening methods is paramount in the context of research.
As the Deputy referred to concerns expressed about a tenuous connection to human health issues, I take this opportunity to inform the House that the Department consulted with the EU Commission on the matter. A report of its scientific committee on possible links was published by the Commission in 2000. According to the report, there was insufficient evidence from which to draw any firm conclusion. The Department referred the matter to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland also, which was of the same view as the Commission. We will continue to monitor scientific evidence as it becomes available to the Department.
