Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. Will he outline the specific steps the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is taking to prevent the spread of the Schmallenberg virus, which is currently affecting livestock in parts of England and elsewhere in Europe, to Ireland? Since the 1990s the livestock industry has been affected by several diseases, including the bovine spongiform encephalopathy, BSE, outbreak and the foot and mouth disease outbreak which followed quite soon thereafter. What prompted me to raise this matter was my recollection of the effective measures taken by the then Minister, Joe Walsh, to protect livestock here from the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Britain. It would have been devastating for us if there had been an outbreak of that disease on a wide scale. In more recent years we have had scares in regard to swine flu and avian flu. Some of these diseases, particularly BSE, pose significant risks to human health.

The Schmallenberg virus is somewhat more complex because the contagion is from a different source than is the case in respect of foot and mouth disease, for example. My objective in bringing this issue to the Minister's attention is to raise awareness of the outbreak of the virus, ascertain the steps being taken and, through raising awareness, encourage precautions to be taken against it. The virus was apparently first detected in the small town of Schmallenberg in Westphalia and soon spread across Germany and into the Netherlands. It is suspected that it was carried from there into southern England by wind-borne midges. The disease is similar to bluetongue in that regard, an outbreak of which occurred here many years ago. Unlike bluetongue, however, there is no vaccine for the Schmallenberg virus and scientists are indicating that it could be several years before one is developed.

The incidence of the virus is not as yet very extensive in England, but its effects have been seen on sheep, in particular, and cattle. Lambs are especially affected, with 10% to 25% of those exposed to the virus born either deformed or stillborn. I understand that in cattle the disease has an effect on milk yields. This amounts to a significant adverse impact for the agricultural sector. While the outbreak is not extensive in our neighbouring country, we should have people on notice and take whatever measures are considered necessary in order to prevent cattle and sheep in this country being affected. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney. Coming from a farming background myself, I am aware that there is no point in attempting to deal with these types of issues once they have already become a problem. The greater people's awareness of this disease, the more precautions they will take. It is an important issue at a time when agriculture is a lifeline for our economy. We cannot afford to put that at risk. As such, I compliment the Senator on raising the matter.

Ireland's animal health status is the bedrock of our food industry at all levels and crucial to our economic recovery. We will not do anything to undermine or jeopardise this very valuable resource. Proof of the value of our high animal health status is reflected in the fact that the value of Irish food and drink exports have reached an all-time high of €8.85 billion. As a result, the sector accounted for 25% of the rise in total export revenue. In the past two years, the value of Irish food and drink exports has increased by €1.8 billion, or 25%.

The Schmallenberg virus, named after the town in Germany where the disease was first identified, was confirmed in December 2011 following the birth of deformed lambs in the Netherlands. Its manifestation in adult cattle, as low grade fever and unexplained milk drop from which animals made a full recovery, had been under investigation in Germany and the Netherlands since the summer of 2011. It has now been recorded in seven member states, namely, Germany, Belgium, France, Luxemburg, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Italy, on some 1,000 farms in total out of a total ruminant population of 85 million. It is not a notifiable disease.

Identified hosts so far are cattle, sheep, goats and bison, but the two main hosts are adult cattle and sheep where it manifests as a transient febrile illness with milk drop in adult cattle and in the form of congenital malformations in newborn and aborted animals, mainly sheep. Based on current available information, experts conclude that the risk for human health is negligible. This advice has been given by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. International experts have also determined that the time during which the virus circulates in the bloodstream of an infected animal, and is thus in a position to be a source of disease, is short. It is part of the Simbu serogroup of viruses that are primarily transmitted by insect vectors, mainly midges and mosquitoes. There is no evidence of direct transmission from animal to animal other than maternal transmission from mother to offspring in utero. Exposure to a similar virus, the Akabane virus, which is widespread in Australia, induces strong immunity in the infected animal.

There are currently no trade implications for the movement of animals or products within the European Union arising from the outbreak of the disease. In other words, animals may be moved subject to normal health inspection and certification systems. However, third countries have responded on the trade issue in different ways. Some, including the Russian Federation and other customs union countries, have applied widespread trade restrictions pending further information and additional assurance in respect of animals and animal products from affected countries. Certain countries have suspended trade in germinal products from the EU while seeking additional health guarantees. Other third countries have sought additional information.

There is no treatment or vaccine available for the Schmallenberg virus. As it is a new disease, further work is needed to determine what control measures may be appropriate. The European Commission, in co-operation with the member states, through the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, SCoFCAH, and the states' chief veterinary officers, recognising that information on the Schmallenberg virus is fragmented, has concluded that further data are required on in four aspects. These are: vector distribution; susceptible species; current stage of the epidemic - peak, decline and so on; and epidemiological data on herd incidence, prevalence, morbidity, etc. Accordingly, the European Food Safety Authority, EPSA, has been tasked with collecting the required data and preparing an overall assessment of the impact of the infection on animal health, animal production and animal welfare, together with a characterisation of the pathogen, by 31 May 2012.

In view of the action of certain third countries to which I alluded, the EU has stressed the need for a consistency in approach to third countries in line with World Organisation for Animal Health, OIE, recommendations that there is no justification for any ban on milk or meat. No trade restrictions should be accepted on meat, milk and by-products as these commodities do not pose any risk for Schmallenberg virus transmission, it being a vector-borne disease. In the case of a virus from the same family, the Akabane virus in Australia, no restriction is placed on international trade in animals or animal products.

As I said, there is no evidence that the disease is present in Ireland. Equally, there is no suitable routine test to enable us to prove it is not present as no blood test exists for appropriate surveillance. However, a polymerase chain reaction, PCR, test - essentially a DNA test - to detect the virus is currently in use in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's central veterinary research laboratory. Some 48 samples tested to date from animals presenting with clinical signs associated with infection have tested negative.

We in the Department agree fully with the approach the EU has taken in addressing this situation and its conclusion, as endorsed by the OIE, that no additional risk is posed through intra-Community trade in animals. In common with other member states, we are collating the required laboratory and epidemiological information to assist in risk evaluation and risk management. We are in continuous contact with our counterparts in Northern Ireland, who are adopting a similar approach, and in all member states. We have notified relevant persons, including veterinary staff and private veterinary practitioners, to report and submit samples of any animals showing unexplained clinical symptoms of the virus or of suspect birth defects. We have also provided information on our website and have made information available in the printed media.

As I explained, the information available on the Schmallenberg disease virus suggests that it is part of the Simbu serogroup of viruses that are primarily transmitted by insect vectors, including midges and mosquitoes. We are in the vector dormant season when the level of vector activity is such that the risk of disease spread is minimised. It is worth repeating that there is no evidence of direct transmission from animal to animal, other than maternal transmission from mother to offspring in utero.

Applying additional controls at entry points, given the vector route of transmission, would not add anything by way of increased bio-security. Such a move would also be contrary to current European animal health law, given, in particular, that Ireland is not in a position to prove freedom from the disease. Single Market rules preclude member states from interfering with intra-Union trade in animals, except on legitimate animal health grounds. Accordingly, animals are free to move in trade in the Union provided they are certified as being compliant with animal health rules. My Department urges importers to ensure such imports are fully compliant with EU rules and that they operate to the highest standards of bio-security to ensure no diseases are introduced to Ireland via such imports or the vehicles transporting them.

As stated, we treat any threat to our animal health status with the utmost seriousness. We will continue to monitor this developing situation, maintain close contact with our colleagues in Northern Ireland and review and modify our response, as appropriate, in the light of any new information that becomes available or through the development of new testing capabilities.

Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. As the prevailing winds are in our favour, we will avoid the spread of the disease here. When tabling the motion I expected to hear that there was a spray available which would act as a repellant to midges and thus protect animals. However, as the Minister of State did not mention one, that may not be the case. Perhaps he might inquire if such a spray is available. The best approach at this stage might be to create awareness of this problem and ask people to be mindful of it.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I will make inquiries on behalf of the Senator whom I again thank for raising the matter. As agriculture is our biggest industry, we must take all precautions to protect it. I will update the Senator if we receive further information on the matter.