Written answers

Thursday, 27 January 2005

Department of Agriculture and Food

Bovine Diseases

5:00 pm

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 53: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of cases of BSE in cattle discovered in 2004; the way in which this compares with recent years; the number of such cases which were discovered in animals born after the imposition of the ban on meat and bone meal; if she has information regarding the reason so many cases in such animals are still being discovered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1913/05]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In 2004, 126 cases of BSE were confirmed compared with 182 in 2003 and 333 in 2002. This represents a reduction of 31% and 62% respectively. Of the 2004 cases, the vast majority have occurred in animals born prior to the introduction of the additional controls. The shift in age profile in BSE cases as well as a reduction in case numbers indicates that the additional controls introduced in 1996-97 have been effective in significantly reducing the exposure of animals born after 1997 to the infectious agent. It is expected that the incidence of disease will continue to decline as cows born prior to 1998 leave the system.

Epidemiological investigations are carried out into the feeding regimes of all herds in which BSE is identified. Particular attention is paid to herds in which cases born after the feed controls were re-enforced are confirmed.

Within the context of the overall picture, the diagnosis of BSE in a small number of animals born after 1997 is to be expected. To date, nine animals born after 1997 — four in 1998 and five in 1999 — have been diagnosed with BSE. In addition, ten cases were confirmed in animals born in 1997 but some of these were born before all the re-enforced measures were fully in place. My Department had foreseen the likelihood that occasional, individual cases would from time to time arise which may relate to circumstances specific to the farms in question and which do not conform with the general trend as the incidence of the disease in the national herd recedes. There is, however, no basis for suspecting that these cases are indicative of either a systemic failure in controls or of a reversal of or deviation from the overall positive trend in relation to BSE in Ireland.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.