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Animal Diseases

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Ceisteanna (1220)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

1220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has received information to the effect that bovine TB is being spread by way of other animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52874/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Bovine TB is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium bovis (M bovis), with infection endemic in cattle and badgers in Ireland. I am acutely aware of the emotional financial burden put on farms as a result of a breakdown and I am committed to tackling the problem.

While many mammalian species may become infected with M bovis (including humans), these are generally spillover infections rather than the result of ongoing circulation within these other species. In Wicklow, surveys have found levels of TB in deer to be consistently of the order of 10% prevalence, while outside Wicklow the detection of TB in deer is rare, at around 2% of deer examined in laboratories.

Infections with M bovis have been recognised in other species such as sheep, goats, pigs, and alpacas. It is important to note that infections in these species are identified at a very low rate each year, with comprehensive surveillance through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s (DAFM’s) Veterinary Laboratory Service (VLS) and Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVL).

When M bovis infection is identified, actions are taken to manage any risks to public and animal health. This may include advice to the owner, additional testing of any bovines co-located with the infected animals, or additional testing of any cohorts of the infected animal, as appropriate to the situation, in addition to biosecurity advice.

The premises may be restricted pending the resolution of the incident to prevent spread to other holdings.

Ireland’s bTB Eradication Programme (the Programme) is in line with best national and international scientific research and advice. A large body of peer-reviewed research has been conducted into the spread of bovine TB (bTB) in Ireland and the risks underlying transmission of TB.

This has recently been reviewed in its entirety for the TB Stakeholders Forum by the Scientific Working Group of the TB Forum by a panel of internationally recognised experts in TB research. It is available on gov.ie - TB Forum (www.gov.ie).

The bovine TB eradication programme continues to be based on science and informed by ongoing research into this disease. The Department has for many years provided funding for TB epidemiological research and continues to do so.

The new TB eradication strategy, launched in January 2021, sets out the actions which, together with stakeholders, the Department will take to reduce TB transmission, drive towards eradication, prevent cattle from infection and protect farm families from the stress of a TB breakdown in their herd.

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